ITALY – For Acimall, the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association, the year 2015 will not be remembered as a season of records, although the past twelve months were undoubtedly better than expected.

The trends based on the positive figures of the preliminary balance published by the association in mid- December will probably be revised upwards, although it should be noticed that most orders coming in the fourth quarter will generate revenues in 2016.

As a matter of fact, orders in the final quarter 2015 cast a new light onto the industry. On the whole, the trend survey by Acimall’s Studies Office on a panel of representative companies indicates 23.3 percent growth compared to the same period in 2014. There was a clear growth of the domestic market, with orders up by 29.6 percent, while foreign markets recorded slower expansion at 17 percent.

Besides year-on-year, figures are also positive quarter-on-quarter, as growth from the previous quarter (July-September 2015) amounted to 30 percent, or 7 percent with seasonal adjustment, i.e. considering the number of working days. This figure is significant because it indicates a consolidation of the growth trend that has been going on since early 2014.

The interviewed businessmen are more optimistic about the 2016 period, with 42 percent expecting a further expansion of foreign demand, 53 percent a stable trend and only 5 percent a decrease.

More caution on the domestic market: according to 16 percent of the sample, orders from Italian companies are going to decrease, while 63 percent expect a stable trend and 21 percent expect further growth in the short term.

Italian Woodworking Machinery 2015

Preliminary Balance. Million EUR