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[June 2005]
Italian Ceramic Plant & Machinery Annual Statistics
The Italian Ceramic Plant & Machinery Manufacturers' Association, Acimac,
has just published its 13th Annual National Statistical Survey covering
activities in 2004.After closures, new incorporations, mergers and takeovers, the number of
Italian ceramic machinery manufacturers operating in 2004 totalled 175
compared to 173 in 2003. Total turnover amounted to 1.5934 billion, up
13.6% on 2003.The industry only partially recovered from the fall in sales in the Italian
market in 2003 (down 11.5%). Turnover there totalled 448 million, up 4.6%.
By contrast, exports went up substantially, increasing from 974 million in
2003 to stand at 1.1454 billion in 2004. The percentage of total turnover
attributable to exports rose from 69.4% to 71.9%.2004 saw a recovery in sales in a number of markets (such as the European
Union) that had been experiencing a long-term negative trend. One exception
was South-East Asia, where sales continued to fall. The Middle East, which
has been showing uninterrupted growth since 1999, overtook the EU in 2004 to
become the most important geographical area for exports of Italian ceramic
technology with sales of 280.3 million (up 54.3%). Iran remains the
strongest market in the region.The EU showed a partial recovery in sales, which increased from 192 million
to 239.3 million and reached a 20.9% share of exports. The difficulties
experienced by the Spanish tile industry remained the main factor behind the
weaker demand here which saw the EU drop to second in the export table.The third largest market is Eastern Europe which, after a year-long natural
decline, is returning to a positive growth trend in terms of sales, reaching
a value of 150.1 million, up 39% from 2003.Sales are also recovering in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, totalling 97.9
million in 2004 - up 20.3% - while the rest of Asia showed a fall of 32.1%.
This continuing decline was mainly due to the significant fall in sales to
South-East Asia.Exports to Africa showed a small fall of 6.6% compared to an increase in
2003 of 24.2%. However, exports continued to increase steadily both to the
North American NAFTA area (up 6.1%) - where sales are concentrated most
heavily in Mexico - and to Central and South America, up 16.2%.www.acimac.it
ENDS