Italy report shows 26% rise in rubber machinery sales

 Milan, Italy – Italy’s rubber processing equipment sector achieved a 26% year-on-year increase in sales in 2021, newly issued industry data shows.

Overall, polymer-processing machinery revenues totalled €4,025.9 million in 2021, 72.4% of which was generated from exports, noted a report released 7 July by MECS-AMAPLAST Study Centre

‘Machines and moulds for rubber’ contributed 6.1% (€245.6 million) of the revenue total, 85% of which came from exports, according to the report based on official figures.

In 2020, rubber machinery had a 5.4% share of overall sales in 2020, when rubber machinery and moulds generated sales of €194.6 million.

Overall. plastics & rubber equipment imports at €1,050 million increased 36,4% year-on-year in 2021, following declines of -15.4% and 9.9% in 2020 and 2019 respectively.

There was a less marked bounce in exports: lifting by 9.2% to €2,980 million, after declines of 15.4% and 5.8% in the previous two years.

The 2021 trend for Italian exports by geographical area showed year-on-year increases in sales to: North America up 26.6%; Central/South America, 8.1%; EU, 7.7%; Other Europe, 4.4%; Asia, 4.0%; Africa/Oceania, 1.8%

Italy’s trade balance in plastics & rubber machinery, therefore, remained in positive territory, at €1,930 million, though 1.5 percentage points below the prior-year figure.

The top markets for Italian machinery (by percentage share) grew/declined by: Germany (12.6%) +9.5%; US (12.1%) +33.1%; China (5.4%) +11.6%; France (5.3%) +3.9%; Poland (4.5%) -11.9%.

These overseas markets were followed by: UK (3.5%); +8.0%, Mexico (3.5%) +7.0%; Spain (3.4%) -28.0%; Turkey (3.0%) +16.35; India (2.9%) +32.5%.

Last year’s top three exporters of polymer machinery were: China, €9,053 million (+5.2% year-on-year); Germany, €6,914 million (+9.8%); Italy, €2,980 million (+9.2%).

The top importers in 2021 were: US, €4,969 million (+12.2%); China, €3,906 million (-4.2%); Germany, €2,099 million (+9.4%); Mexico, €2,058 million (+0.4%); and India, €1,613 million (+37.9%).

By end-use customer sector, the MECS-AMAPLAST report profiled the 2020 rubber machinery market as being dominated by automotive-related uses at 69.6%, followed by packaging, 8.4% and medical, 5.1%. The 2021 study did not include a similar breakdown.