Italian construction machinery exports rose 7.6% between January and November 2015 to €2.275 billion in turnover, compared to the same period of 2014. Imports also increased by 16.7% to €587.9 million over the same recording period, and the balance of trade is in the black - up 4.7% year-on-year to €1.687 billion.
Consolidation of the recovery in the Italian construction machinery market seems to be confirmed by the figures published by the
The 30th edition of SaMoTer, the landmark triennial exhibition in Italy for earth moving, sites and construction, is scheduled at Veronafiere 22-25 February 2017, alongside Asphaltica, the road paving and infrastructure show, and Transpotec, the road transport and logistics event.
In more detail, the new SaMoTer Italian machinery export turnover figures show that the earthmoving machinery sector contributed €905 million (+6.8%) to the total: exports of track-laying bulldozers were down (from €29.7 million to €8 million), offset by an increase wheel-mounted bulldozers (up from €4.9 to €17.8 million); buckets, shovels and mechanical grippers were up by €10.4 million (from €80.4 to €90.8 million); and even public works machinery improved (from €141 million to €158.9 million).
There was also a leap forwards for roadbuilding machinery, with orders worth €102 million (+29.1%): the list is topped by bitumen mixing machines (from €66.2 million to €81.6 million) and roller compressors (from €2.4 million to €10.8 million).
Foreign sales were essentially stable (-0.7%) for concrete machinery with €295.2 million, while tower cranes improved from €170.1 million to €202.3 million (+18.9%). There was a slight decline (-2.6%) for aggregate preparation machinery, which over the eleven months in consideration totalled €407.9 million. There was a positive result, finally, for drilling machines with exports coming to €362.8 million (+19.9%).
Looking at markets, the main outlet for Italian construction machinery is once again Western Europe with €825 million (+7.7%); there was also strong growth in North America (+23.1%), the Middle East (+26.3%), Asia (+28.7%) and Australia (+23.5%). More modest increases were seen in Central-Eastern Europe and Turkey (+3.7%), Central and South America (+6.3%) and Africa (+2.5%). Russia, in the wake of sanctions related to the Ukraine crisis, saw exports continue to collapse, down by 62.8%.
For imports, there were increases in segments such as earthmoving machinery (+27.5%), roadbuilding machinery (+15.5%), tower cranes (+150.8%) and aggregates preparation machinery (+21.6%). Figures were significantly down, on the other hand, for drilling machines (-42.9%) and concrete equipment (-39.3%).
