As the wood and furniture market faces uncertainty, the Italian woodworking technologies association Acimall has analysed import and export data for the first quarter of 2024, based on statistics from Istat, Italy's national statistical institute.
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Export trends
In Q1 2024, Italy's exports in this sector totalled €379.4 million, marking a 6.1% decline compared to the same period in 2023. Notably, sales to non-EU European countries fell by 30% due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, while exports to the Middle East plummeted by 55.1%. Conversely, the European Union, Italy's largest trade partner, accounted for 52.8% of exports, maintaining stable figures. North America showed growth, with a 4% increase in purchases, driven by U.S. policies favouring domestic production. Additionally, South America (up 28%), Oceania (up 18%), and Africa (up 9.3%) emerged as promising markets. However, exports to Asia dropped by 16.4%, reflecting increased competition from Chinese technologies.
On a country-specific level, the U.S. and France showed significant recoveries from 2023 lows, while Sweden experienced a remarkable 137% growth, primarily from spare parts. The UK continued to see a decline in Italian machinery imports (down 36.6%), while China reported a 12.9% increase in interest for Italian technology.
Import trends
Imports into Italy also reflected stagnation, totalling €39.4 million—about 10% of exports—representing a 23.9% decrease from Q1 2023. Key declines were noted from Germany (down 35.6%), China (down 20.5%), and Switzerland (down 12.3%), although Austria saw an 8.7% increase. The EU remained the primary source of imports, despite a 24.6% reduction from the previous year.
Acimall's director, Dario Corbetta, emphasised the limited role of Africa in Italian manufacturing, especially when compared to China's significant market share in woodworking technologies. He noted that while North America and Europe are essential partners, the latter should be viewed as an extension of the domestic market rather than merely an export destination.
More information:
Acimall
www.acimall.com