Exports Spell Success for Italian Firms

According to Eurostat, in the first six months of 2013 Italy captured first place among exporting countries within the EU.    It is no secret that approximately 80% of the turnover of Italy's manufacturers of machines and accessories for glass processing comes from exports.In fact, their technological leadership is recognized around the world and has grown consistently through many years of business in international markets. In 2012 Gimav's annual analysis certified a 3.44% rise in exports over 2011. And the trend clearly points to a further invigoration, as evidenced by data for the first seven months of 2013. This time the data comes from ISTAT (Italy's National Institute of Statistics) and, though the figures are not definitive or complete – due to the particular make-up of our industry, which includes the mechanical, chemical, plastics, rubber and other industries that share the same end user: those who manufacture and process glass – they do indicate a very substantial increase in exports from January to July 2013, and especially brilliant results in the area of flat glass, which climbed by 22.32%. Hollow glass experienced a partial decline in exports (-7.04%), that can be considered normal, however, after the amazing performance levels reported last year, up 10.95% compared to 2011. In this case, there are so many investments that are preceded orders -- since they are tied to long-range deliveries for such complex machinery -- that the economic results are distributed over a longer period than the classic 12 months.

This is why a more accurate assessment of industry figures will be possible only a few months down the road, but the grounds for optimism are all there, as confirmed by Renata Gaffo, Director of Gimav: “This data is not definitive and presents only a partial image of the industry, but we can already speculate, as we ascertain from our member firms – a very representative slice of Italian industry with overall sales that account for 80% of the total turnover for Italy's manufacturers of machines, accessories and special products for glass processing  – that at year end we will find ourselves with an increase of between 6 and 8% in exports compared to 2012”.

The facts for our industry are positive, confirmed by Eurostat, among others, that place Italy first among exporting countries inside the EU during the first six months of 2013, ahead of Belgium and Germany. Confirmation that considerably tempers the persistent difficulties of the domestic market, punished by the lack of liquidity that still holds Italian enterprises in its grips.