2011 ends positively for the Italian machine tools, robots and automation manufacturers' industry that records a double figure increase in all main economic indicators. The recovery, which began in 2010, is therefore consolidated but the positive trend risks to fade in 2012 due to the still very instable international framework.

This is what emerged during the end of the year press conference of UCIMU-Sistemi Per Produrre, the Italian machine tools, robots, automation and auxiliary products manufacturers' association, to which Giancarlo Losma, UCIMU president, and Alfredo Mariotti, the general director of the association took part.

As shown in the preliminary data drawn up by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU, in 2011, the Italian production in the sector grew to 5,019 million euros, with an increase of 19.6% compared to the previous year.

The result was achieved due to the very strong performance of exports that grew by 29.3% to 3,367 million euros. According to the UCIMU Studies Dept. processing on ISTAT (Central statistics institute) data, in the first eight months of the year, the following countries were the outlet markets of Italian exports: China, Germany, United States, Brazil, France, India, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Spain. During the year it has emerged, by monitoring monthly updates, the heads-up between Germany and China in order to compete for the top position in the outlet markets ranking.

In particular, according to the most recent survey, sales grew in Germany (+62.9%) to 228 million, United States (+99.4%) to 170 million, Brazil (+84.1%) to 115 million, France (+23.2%) to 105 million, India (+19.7%) Russia (+15%), Turkey (+85.1%), Poland (+55.3%), Spain (+14%). Sales experienced a countertrend (-0.4%) in China, which, with 240 million euros, remains the first outlet market of 'made in Italy' in this sector.

The trend observed in the domestic market is different. Consumption, although increasing by 11.9%, stood at 2,761 million euros, showing the weakness of Italian domestic demand. The modest increase in the domestic demand reflects the shy recovery of manufacturers' deliveries in the domestic market, which, grown by 3.8%, did not exceed 1,652 million.

More marked increase in imports (+26.7%) whose absolute value is still just over 1,100 million. However, the analysis of the period 2008-2011 reveals that the import ratio on consumption grows by less than one percentage point, from 39.9% to 40.2%. On the contrary, the export ratio on production gains ten percentage points, from 57% in 2008 to 67.1% in 2011. Although the two indicators are not directly connected, they underline the capability of the manufacturers in both guarding the domestic market and strongly intensifying activity abroad.

2012 estimates, although positive, show a "slowed growth" in the sector. The level of production, above all, is expected to grow by 3.4% to reach 5,190 million euros. Compared to the positive trend of the foreign market, as shown by the export data that will grow by 4.8% to 3,530 million euros, the domestic market is expected to slow down. Consumption is expected to increase to 2,820 million euros, 2.1% more than in 2011. Stable the domestic deliveries that will reach 1,660 million euros (+0.5%). In order to contrast the weakness of domestic demand, Italian manufacturers will intensify efforts towards exports, further increasing the share of production for the foreign market, which will reach 68%.