The year 2012 has ended with a positive note for the Italian machine tool, robot and automation system manufacturing industry, extending the positive trend recorded since the start of 2010. However, the recovery that started after the 2009 crisis seems to have lost the initial driving spur.

As shown by the preliminary data produced by the Studies Dept. of Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre, in 2012 the Italian production of the sector reached 4,930 million euros, showing a 3.5% increase compared with the previous year.

The result was made possible by a very good performance in exports, which grew by 12%, reaching 3,650 million euros. According to the elaboration of the Studies Dept. of UCIMU on the basis of ISTAT data during the first nine months of the year the main Italian machine tool export markets were the following: China, United States, Germany, Russia, France, Brazil, Turkey, India, Poland, Mexico.

In particular, according to the latest results, sales grew in China (+9.5%) to 299 million, in the United States (+42.5%) to 264 million, in Russia (+31.3%) to 131 million, in France (+9.9%) to 128.7 million, in Turkey (+52.2%) to 107 million, in India (+1.2%) to 99.6 million, in Poland (+36.2%) to 94 million, in Mexico (+93.9%) to 81.4 million. An opposite trend was recorded in Germany (-1.4%), which remains however the third export market of the sector for Italy, with sales reaching 259 million euros.

A different trend is shown for the domestic market. Consumption decreased by 13%, reaching 2,220 million euros. The weakness of the demand has had a strong impact on the deliveries to manufacturers, which decreased by 14.8%, down to 1,280 million euros, and on imports, which decreased by 10.4%, and only reaching a total value of 940 million euros.

On the other hand, after the significant increase recorded in 2011, the import to consumption ratio within the sector only grew a little more than one percentage point, from 41.1% to 42.3%. However, the export to production ratio gained six percentage points, from 68.5% in 2011 to 74% in 2012. Although the two indicators are not directly linked, they underline the capability of the manufacturers in both guarding the domestic market, and in strongly intensifying their activities on the export front.

The 2013 forecasts indicate a slowing down in the Italian machine tool, robot, and automation system manufacturing industry. In particular, production is expected to increase by 1.2%, reaching 4,990 million euros.

Compared with the positive trend of the foreign market, which as shown by the export forecasts will grow by 2.1%, to 3,725 million euros, the domestic market will shrink significantly. Consumptions will decrease by 1.6%, to 2,185 million euros. The structural reduction of the domestic market will have an impact on both the deliveries of manufacturers, which will decrease by 1.2% to 1,265 million euros, and on imports, which will decrease by 2.1% to 920 million euros.

In 2013 the import/consumption ratio will decrease to 42.1%, while the export/production ratio will continue to increase, reaching 74.6%.

Luigi Galdabini, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: "The positive results of Italian manufacturers are due to a good performance in the foreign markets. Exports, both to emerging and traditional markets, have in fact enabled the companies to close the year at the same levels of 2011".

"The industry of the sector have in this way recovered much of the ground lost with the 2009 crisis," added Luigi Galdabini, "but the situation is really much more complex due to a structural reduction in the domestic market.