Woodworking machinery: orders keep growing

The positive trend which has been characterizing the woodworking machinery industry for the last two years has been confirmed once again. This is the result provided by the quarterly survey carried out by the Acimall Studies Office on a sample of manufacturers of all types and sizes.

The figures show that between July and September 2007 orders increased totally by 10.5 percent as compared to the same period in 2006. As usual, export played a leading role, with an increase by 13.5 percent. The orders from the national market were stationary (plus 0.6 percent as compared to the third quarter of the previous year): a market that covers almost 20 percent of the whole “made in Italy” production.

The quality survey for the third quarter gives a clear idea of the industry expectations for the future. According to the survey, 55 per cent of the interviewed companies indicate a stationary production trend, 24 per cent growing and 21 per cent decreasing.

Available stocks are stable according to 69 percent of the sample companies, decreasing for 14 percent and increasing for 17 percent.

Employment is considered as stationary by 76 per cent of the sample, increasing by 14 per cent and falling by 10 per cent.

As to forecasts for the next period, international orders will be stationary according to 69 percent of the sample, further growing according to 24 percent, and decreasing according to 7 percent (positive balance +17).

Looking at the Italian market, in the coming months it is expected to have a constant trend according to 69 percent of the interviewees, a rally for 17 percent and a shrinkage for the remaining 14 percent (negative balance, +3).