Exports of Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery rose 22% during the first half of the year to reach an estimated value of €1.1bn, according to trade body Assocomaplast.
Giorgio Colombo, Assocomoplast president, attributes the rise in export to the organisation’s work in promoting Italian machinery abroad. In the past year, Assocomoplast has set up liaison offices in
Italian SMEs have also redoubled their efforts to enter growing markets, he said.
Looking at the type of machinery exported, extruders accounted for a large chunk of the total (11%). Flexographic printers achieved strong growth during the first six months of the year, with sales rising 20%.
Exports to European markets rose 30%, while sales to China rose 24%.
However, sales to the near and Middle East showed a decline of 5% compared to the first six months of 2010, attributed by Assocomoplast to the socio-political instability in the area. There was also a decline in exports to Africa and
For 2011, Assocomoplast predicts that export sales will total €2.3bn by the end of the year. Production is expected to
rise 11.1%, while the domestic market will grow 6.7%.