Italy's rubber and plastic injection machinery production began to recover

The global financial crisis has brought the Italian processing industry into an 8-year recession. In 2021, the Italian plastic and rubber injection molding machine market finally showed signs of strength.

According to data released by the Italian trade association assocomaplast, in 2015, the output value of rubber and plastic processing machinery by the Italian company was 4.15 billion euros (US$4.48 billion), an increase of 1.9% in 2021 to 4.23 billion euros (US$4.57 billion). This marks a return to "pre-crisis levels," the association said. From the analysis of official foreign trade data, the value of imported machinery from Italy in 2015 was 755 million euros (816 million U.S. dollars), an increase of 12.2% in 2021 to 850 million euros (918.8 million U.S. dollars). Alessandro Grassi, president of assocomaplast, said: "We will see a level that has never been seen before. After years of stagnation, the domestic market is showing signs of recovery."

In 2021, the Italian industry’s purchase of injection molding machines increased by 37%, mainly from Germany, Austria and Japan; extruders increased by 39%, mainly from Austria, Belgium and Germany; blow molding machines increased by 118%, mainly from France And Germany. assocomaplast said, "Such a positive environment is also reflected in the participation in plast2018 (May 29-June 1, 2018, Milan). As of the end of January 2017, the number of exhibitors who have passed the audit has reached 600."

In 2021, the export value of Italian plastic and rubber injection molding machine manufacturers increased by 1.7% year-on-year to 2.97 billion euros (3.2 billion US dollars). More than 70% of the machinery produced in Italy is used for export sales. In 2021, export sales of injection molding machines rose 18%, extruders rose 5%, and thermoforming machines rose 10%. Exports to major EU countries have all increased, but in 2015, machinery exports from Italy to the United States were 260 million euros (281 million U.S. dollars) and fell to 230 million euros (248.6 million U.S. dollars) in 2021. On the other hand, Mexico is the country with the largest increase in Italian exports in 2021, up 70% from 2015 to 173 million euros (186.9 million US dollars).

assocomaplast concluded: "The industry's expectations for 2017 are quite optimistic. The government supports investment in assets and equipment-super installment payments, new sabatini laws, R&D tax reductions-will further promote the development of the Italian plastic and rubber injection molding machine market. The implementation of this series of policies is also part of the National Industry 4.0 Plan."