Page 24 - Glass-Technology International no. 4/2018

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“This marks the eighth consecutive ITALIAN GLASS MACHINERY INDUSTRY
year of growth. The upswing in ex-
ports continues, and domestic market MARKETS ON THE UPSWING,
indicators are starting to improve
as a result of the Industry 4.0 Plan EXCELLENT EXPORT PERFORMANCE
incentives. Our sector is growing,
and it’s very gratifying to be able to maintained its absolute lead as top the top 15 this year.
say that the effects of the downward destination country, followed by “The data is definitively positive,” says
trend that marked the national and France, India, Mexico and China. Gimav director, “and the results –
international economy in 2009 are Strong recovery was once again re- confirmed by the increase in domestic
definitively behind us now”. This was ported for Central and South Ameri- orders – are tangible even with regard
the initial comment by Laura Biason, can markets, which now account for to the opportunities offered by the
Director of Gimav, the Confindustria nearly 12% of global sales (up 59.2% Industry 4.0 Plan (Nuova Sabatini,
member Association representing Ital- from 2016); Brazil and Argentina, to- Iper and SuperAmmortamento). We
ian manufacturers of Flat and Hollow gether, account for 7% of global sales. feel that the delayed applicability of
Glass processing machinery, systems, In terms of exports, however, we need incentives (after the publication of the
special products and accessories, with to differentiate the two macro-special- Ministry of Economic Development
regard to the data in the latest Italian ties of the sector. Flat Glass exports, in Notice on 30 April 2017), negatively
glass machinery industry report. fact, increased by 5.48% from the year impacted their effect on the Italian
In fact, the Gimav Studies Center, on before. market. For this reason we also feel
occasion of the annual Association The ranking of countries purchasing these incentives should be made
members’ meeting, officially released Italian glass processing machinery lists permanent or otherwise be made
the latest figures on the Italian glass in order of importance, EU Europe, available more strategically, over a pe-
machinery sector; numbers accom- Asia (up 47.76% from 2016), the riod of time that allows for adequate
panied by plus signs, starting with the Nafta area, extra-EU Europe, Central production planning and therefore not
4.04% increase in overall sales by the and South America (up 14.04% from year after year.
sector (compared to 2016) with Flat last year), Oceania, and Africa. Lastly, what does 2018 have in store?
glass up by 4.87%, and Hollow Glass We should also note that although “The outlook is positive,” concludes
up by 2.38%. Domestic sales also exports to North America decreased Ms. Biason, “if we are to judge by
increased, by 4.54%. (now accounting for 19.41% of overall the companies’ survey on the general
The sector workforce increased by global sales), exports to Oceania con- market situation: 93.55% of them in
4.65% as a result of these trends. The tinued to rise. fact predict further growth in 2018,
overall trade balance remarkably rose The top five destination countries for with a more marked improvement in
to nearly EUR 984 million, up by Italian Flat Glass in ranking order, foreign markets, while 78% of compa-
3.85% from the year before. after the USA, were Germany (the top nies surveyed also expect an increase
Exports remain the top value of the European market and second global in domestic sales.”
Italian glass machinery industry, with market destination), China, India The sales forecasts for Europe, both
an excellent exports to overall sales ra- (which remarkably climbed up after EU and extra-EU, were very optimis-
tio averaging 78.66% in 2017, further placing 42nd in 2016), and the United tic, with figures for both expected to
consolidating the Italian manufactur- Kingdom, which held its place. increase or remain unchanged. Con-
ers’ position among global market The ranking for Hollow Glass exports, fidence in Russia is improving; fewer
leaders. More specifically, the perfor- which grew by 1.2% since last year, companies expect sales to drop as the
mance of Hollow Glass was also very shows that France is once again the market seemingly started to recover
high, with exports accounting for 84% top destination country, while Mexico (14.71% growth).
of overall sales (slightly less than EUR dropped into second place. Poland, The overall outlook is positive with
379 million), while Flat Glass reached India, Thailand, and Argentina also regard to North America and the sta-
another milestone with export increas- moved up the ranks, but the most bility (or growth) of Middle-Eastern
ing from 75.3% of 2016 to 75.74%, remarkable increase was recorded by markets; sales expectations for Central
and far exceeding EUR 692 million in Japan, which since 2016 climbed from and South America clearly improved
value. 29th to 11th place among the larg- as downturn predictions decreased
As usual, the European market ranked est importers of Italian Hollow Glass, from 21% to 8.8%, while the number
in first place, with 40% of overall and now accounts for 3.41% of global of companies forecasting their recov-
export sales, while the United States exports. Iran and Spain also appear in ery increased to 41%.

22 Glass-Technology International 4/2018