2024: Italian Export
In 2024, Italian exports of machine tools remained static, +1%, for a value of 3,938 million euros.
The quarterly trend was positive in the first nine months: +7.8% in the first quarter, +8.5% in the second and +6.3% in the third; in the last part of the year there was a strong decrease (-12.3%) which led to close the year on par with the previous one.
The analysis carried out on the geographical distribution of Italian exports in the last decade shows that, given the continuous change in the world scenario, made by Italians has been able to meet the needs of customers, penetrating from time to time in the most active areas of the international chess.
In 2024, exports to the European Union remained stable (+0.3%) at 1,639 million euros. Germany was the leading market in Europe and second worldwide, with 365 million (+1.6%). Followed by France (204 million, -17.6%), Poland (169 million, -21.5%), Spain (157 million, +21.1%) and Sweden (92 million, +71.4%).
Sales in the rest of Europe fell (-8.4%) to 432 million. In detail, exports decreased in Turkey (190 million, -10.3%) and the United Kingdom (70.5 million, -17.3%), while it increased in Switzerland (+16.2%, 86.9 million). Strong growth in purchases from Serbia (+82.8%) although the absolute value is still rather low (25.5 million).
Exports to North America increased (+4.2%) to 871 million and the continent is, again, the second market for Italy. In 2024, the United States maintained its position as the leading outlet for Italian supply in this sector, with purchases of 629 million (+10.9%). Exports of made by Italians decreased in neighboring countries: Mexico (176 million, -9.9%) and Canada (66.7 million, -9.5%).
Negative data also for sales in Central and South America, which reduced purchases from Italy (-10.5%, worth €110 million). At the top places are Brazil (72.5 million, +2.5%) and Argentina (10.7 million, -9.6%); followed by Colombia with 6.1 million (-3.4%).
Exports to Asia grew by 4.6% compared to 2023, to 737 million: the continent has confirmed itself as the third destination market of made by Italians, after the European Union and North America.
Of the total exported to the continent, the largest part was destined for East Asia, which bought Italian machine tools for 315 million euros (-13.8%). Strong declines were recorded for the Chinese market (-16.3%, 240 million) and the Japanese market (-22.9%, 22.8 million), more moderate contraction of sales in Taiwan (-8.8%, 14.2 million). South Korea (+10%), for 34.5 million. Exports to South Asia also increased strongly in 2024, increasing by 46.5% to 191 million. Compared to the total area, sales in India dominate (185 million, +58.3%).
Purchases of Italian machine tools by countries in the Middle East remained stable: +1.4%, equal to 167 million. Exports grew in the United Arab Emirates (+54.4%, 49.7 million) and Kazakhstan (+89.5%, 24.8 million); down Saudi Arabia (-28.4% for 44.4 million) and Israel (-38.4%, 14.9 million).
Strong recovery in sales in the ASEAN area: 63.4 million, +44.5% compared to 2023. Vietnam (+49.6%, 20.1 million), Thailand (+45.1%, 18.3 million), Malaysia (+187%, 8.8 million) are up; Indonesia (-5.7%, 5.8 million) is down.
Direct exports to Africa increased by 11.2% to 79.3 million.
