Italian machinery excels in exports

The Italian ceramic machinery industry maintains its strong propensity towards exports, which in 2007 accounted for a total of 71.5% of turnover. Exports rose from 1,243 million euro in 2006 to 1,386.1 million euro in 2007, corresponding to two-figure growth of 11.4%. Overall, exports remain one of the main driving factors behind the sector's growth.

Export turnover continues to be divided up fairly uniformly amongst different markets, demonstrating that the industry's commercial presence is evenly spread over the various continents. Europe is the leading market at 40%, followed by Asia at 31.8%, America at 17.2% and Africa at 10.2%.

In greater detail, the enlarged European Union (including all official member countries) is the leading market with a 28.2% share of total exports and a turnover of 391 million euro (+24.7%). After a negative 2006, exports to the Middle East have picked up again (+9%) to reach 238 million euro, corresponding to a 17.2% share.

Eastern Europe follows in third place with a turnover of 163 million euro (down by 9.2%), corresponding to 11.8% of total exports. Next comes Central and South America at 143 million euro, 10.3% of total foreign turnover (a reassuring 23.5% up on the previous year).

Africa accounted for 142 million euro (10.2% of the export total), up slightly by 2.6%. The African market, the fifth largest export market for Italian ceramic technology, is similar in size to that of Central and South America. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan also reported an increase in turnover in 2007, up from 78.7 to 104.8 million euro (33% up on 2006 and corresponding to a share of 7.6%).

This contrasted with a fall in exports to the "Other Asia" group of countries (India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia). These important markets saw an 18.3% contraction to 97.4 million euro (7% of exports), probably due to the diffusion of technology from competitor countries.

North America (including Mexico) saw a 32.7% increase in 2007 to reach a turnover of 96.1 million euro (6.9% of exports). Exports to Oceania rose by 38.3% to 10.1 million euro (0.7% of the total).