According to Amaplast, the Italian association representing the manufacturers of plastics and rubber processing machinery and moulds, the year 2022 was one for the books; the year closed with a turnover of €4.67 billion, the second-highest ever. This result, which exceeded that of 2021 by 5%, was almost wholly driven by exports, said the association. These achieved a value of over €3 billion, despite the combined impacts of adverse geopolitical conditions, raw material and component shortages - impacts that are still being felt to the present day and this year joined by skyrocketing energy costs.
Italy exports some 70% of the plastics and rubber processing machinery and moulds it produces, according to the Amaplast figures. The main destinations are Europe, Asia and the Americas.
In 2022, exports to Europe rose 8% compared to the year before; for the Americas, this was 12%, mainly thanks to South America, which grew 33% overall, with peaks mainly for Brazil and Colombia, Chile, and Peru. While sales to the United States were down 3%, Mexico registered a 35% increase.
Exports to Asia grew 9%, with sales to India jumping 24% compared to 2021. Sales to China, however, decreased 7%. In the Middle East, where overall a plus of 11% was achieved, Saudi Arabia (+36%) and the Emirates (+58%) became the companies to watch.
The picture in Africa was a divided one: exports to North Africa fell by 24% on average while the sub-Saharan markets grew by a similar percentage.
Interesting too, is the development by product category; where machines for primary processing showed healthy growth - extruders (+23%) and mono-multifilament systems (+58%), the latter repreesenting sales of a record 140 million in 2022 - exports of injection moulding machine were flat compaared to 2021, while blow-moulding systems and thermoforming machines were downright poor at -19% and -22%, respectively.
Amaplast is forecasting a 7% rise in orders for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 2022 and a 6% growth in turnover, once again, fueled by sales abroad.
Given the current uncertain economic and political context, the rest of the year is anyone’s guess. While energy costs have somewhat stabilised and the availability of raw materials and components has improved, the impact of the recent bank crisis remains to be seen.
The Italian industry is, however, looking forward to the return of PLAST this year, after a five-year hiatus. Normally held every three years, this major show for the plastics and rubber industry will take place on 5–8 September 2023 at the Fiera Milano Rho fairgrounds, in Milan.