The orders for Italian woodworking machinery in Q3 2014 have increased by 11.3%

Nov 24, 2014. /Lesprom Network/. The orders for Italian woodworking machinery in Q3 2014 have increased by 11.3% compared to the same period of 2013, Italian association of woodworking machinery manufacturers Acimall reported. The orders from foreign countries increased by 11.8%, while demand in the domestic market expanded by 9%.

According to Acimall, the orders book currently covers a period of 2.6 months (versus 2.9 in April-June 2014), and since the beginning of the year, prices have increased by an estimated 1.3%, much better than the 0.8% increase recorded at the end of June.

According to the quality survey, 25% of the interviewed companies indicate a positive production trend, 50% stable and 25%  decreasing (the latter were 11% in the previous quarter). Employment is considered stationary by 90% of the sample (versus 84% in the previous quarter) and growing by the remaining 10%. For the second quarter in a row, nobody is expecting a further reduction of employment. Available stocks are stationary according to 75%, decreasing according to 15% and growing according to the remaining 10%.

The Acimall's forecast survey showed a negative trend of confidence in the domestic market, compensated by enduring optimism for export sales. A bit less than half of the sample − 45% expects an increase in foreign orders in the short term, while 50% think there will be no variation. Only 5% expect a drop (balance is plus 40). The domestic Italian market is going to drop according to 15% of the sample, stable for 85%. None of the interviewed company owners and managers predicted expansion (balance is minus 15).

“We can say that Italian technology for wood and wood-based materials is still in a positive area”, said the Acimall director Dario Corbetta. “It is getting harder and harder to accept that the domestic market has such a low propensity to invest. However, in this situation of widespread dissatisfaction, the most proactive and innovative actors are expanding their market share abroad, as a result of strong commitment and continuous investments. In this respect, we hope that the extraordinary plan to support export devised by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development will soon receive the necessary resources to be deployed”.