Italy's association for textile machinery, ACIMIT, reported textile machinery orders for the third quarter of 2012 grew by eight percent (8%) over the previous quarter, for an absolute value of 108.2 points (2005=100). A comparison with the same period in 2011 showed an even greater increase (+53%), a positive result which is due solely to orders originating from foreign markets, whereas the situation in Italy highlighted a decidedly opposite and negative trend. In fact, orders from foreign markets rose 11% compared to the period from April to June 2012, for an absolute value of 123.3 points

Italian exports of graphic, paper and converting machinery have increased by 4.82% in the first quarter of 2012. Imports are also showing an impressive + 9.94%. Such are the figures published by the Research Center of trade association ACIMGA based on Istat data. The same source reveals that the USA remains the first buyer of Italian machinery with a 68.8 % increase, followed by Germany and China – over the last quarter, the latter has doubled its orders. “We are relieved to see the plus sign in front of these figures, in sharp contrast with the general economic scenario, especially in

For Italian textile machinery, 2012 begins with greater stability than the previous year. In fact, in the first quarter of the year, orders are up by a modest 2% compared to the last three months of 2011. According to joint surveys conducted by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, the overall orders index for the January- March 2012 period shows an increase of 2% over the previous quarter with a value of 91.2 points. Nevertheless, there is a different trend between orders in Italy and those in foreign markets. In the Italian market, the index increased 34%

The value of Italian textile machinery production for 2011 registered a 9% increase compared to 2010, from 2.4 to 2.6 billion euros. A similar increase was recorded for exports (+10%), which reached a value of just over 2.1 billion euros. Exports remain the driving force behind the sector growth in Italy. The dynamism of major textile markets combined with the ability of Italian machinery manufacturers to assert themselves on a global scale, has contributed to sustaining Italian exports. Fully 25% of the sector's sales abroad are directed to China, with Asian markets generally accounting for

The 2010 figures reported by Italian packaging machinery manufacturers show that the industry has put the crisis firmly behind its back. The sector's turnover totalled 3,759 million euro at current prices, 16,4% up on 2009, when it slumped to 3,229 million euro. Last year's turnover even surpassed that of 2007 (3,610 million euro) and was not far short from the record figure of 3,827 million euro achieved in 2008. The excellent 2010 performance also enabled the Italian packaging machinery industry to strengthen its international leadership position and secure a 25,7% share of the world market

In particular, there was an above-the-average turnabout for the Italian injection moulding machines. In fact, the survey carried out by ASSOCOMAPLAST Secretariat, referred to the first half of 2010, highlighted the jump for sales in Italy and abroad not only - as easily imaginable - in comparison to January-June 2009 but even to the first half of 2008: sales recorded a 10,5% growth and even more considerable (about +33%) is the increase for sales on the domestic market, in the biennial comparison too. The above mentioned results are also confirmed by the latest monthly surveys carried out by

Some good news, at last, though long awaited, for the Italian production of machinery and technology to process wood and wood-based materials. According to the Acimall trend survey for the first quarter 2010, we are seeing a consolidation of recovery that started in the last three months of 2009. It’s mainly good news from foreign markets that are bringing cautious optimism also for the near future, still considering that these figures compare to the first quarter 2009 that was the most difficult period of the crisis. According to the statistic sample interviewed by the analysts of the