Machine tools, positive trend continuing in the second quarter

30/07/2010

The positive trend for incoming orders of Italian machine tools is continuing; in the second quarter 2010, there was a 66.4 percent increase over the same period of last year, with an absolute index value of 79.7 (base 2005=100). Despite the massive increase, the absolute index is still very low, at the same levels of the second quarter 2003, when the previous big crisis had occurred.
According to the figures processed by Centro Studi & Cultura di Impresa of Ucimu-Sistemi per produrre, the new trend that Italian manufacturers have been recording since the end of 2009 is confirmed by the latest survey, which indicates a recovery of both domestic and foreign demand.Nevertheless, the incoming orders index is still largely below average.
As refers to the international market, the orders index of Italian manufacturers shows a 60.5 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous year. As a result, the absolute index value is 70.6.
On the domestic side, the growth trend recorded since the end of 2009 is holding on. The index of orders for domestic demand in the second quarter 2010 has grown by 75.6 percent versus the same period of last year, resulting into an absolute index of 89.4.
In the six-month period, the increase of incoming orders was 34 percent (for an absolute value of 87.3) compared to the January-June 2009 period, as a result of the increased volume of orders collected on the domestic market (+39.2 percent) and abroad (+32.3 percent).

“These figures − said Giancarlo Losma, president of Ucimu-Sistemi per produrre − witness to the trend reversal. The increase of incoming orders from abroad feed good hopes for the near future, when we expect a rally of demand from traditional markets and a significant increase from emerging countries”.

“As opposed to this − added the Ucimu president − we are worried about the domestic market. The results achieved in the recent quarters were supported by the effects of the Tremonti-Ter law, which was not extended despite the pressure and strong requests from the mechanical engineering industry. Such laws and incentives to the substitution of obsolete machinery and equipment cannot be cancelled. These measures do not just support consumption, they are essential tools to preserve the competitiveness of our industrial system, which in the near future will have to deal with new European directives that will regulate production methods and resources based on principles of environmental compatibility and sustainability.”

“It is also true that the figures of Bi-Mu, the reference event in our industry, scheduled at Fieramilano from 5 to 9 October − said Alfredo Mariotti, general manager of Ucimu-Sistemi per produrre − have seen a 20 percent increase of registrations in the past two months, which shows that companies are ready and willing to act, with significant investments to take part in leading exhibitions”.