Amaplast, the association of Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery manufacturers, reports a decline in sectoral imports and exports in the first half of 2024 compared to the first six months of last year.
In the case of imports, an indicator of domestic sales trends, there was a progressive deterioration. Overall, between January and June, imports stood at EUR 483 million, 12% less than in 2023, with significant declines from the three main countries of origin: Germany, China and Austria.
A symptom – Amaplast claims – of a reduced propensity to invest, which is set in a context of a shrinking general economy and industrial production.
Exports, on the other hand, remain in positive territory, growing by +2.5% to €1.73 billion in the first half of the year, albeit with a progressive slowdown due to lower demand for many types of machinery and moulds