The Italians could still top the record year 2021

The Italian association Acimall already sums up the year 2022: according to the report, the year 2022 ends with another positive result for the world of machinery, equipment and tools for the wood and furniture industry. According to data from the statistics office of Acimall, a member association of Confindustria, total production reached a value of 2.646 billion euros, an increase of 4.6 percent over the previous record year of 2021.

According to Acimall, exports were largely stable and amounted to 1.757 billion euros (+1% compared to 2021), while domestic sales, at 889 million euros, were even 12.1% higher than last year’s excellent result, marking a new record in this category as well.

Imports also increased (257 million euros, up 5.3 percent compared to 2021), leading to a positive trade balance of 1.5 billion euros, similar to 2021, with an increase of 0.2 percent.

Domestic consumption in Italy amounted to 1.146 billion euros, an increase of 10.8 percent over the previous year.

So the figures are clear: in 2022, companies in the sector repeated the successful results of the last two years, albeit with a slightly lower growth rate. And yet, in the run-up to the event, it looked impossible to “step it up a notch” – precisely because the period of comparison is the record year of 2021 and, in addition, in 2022 the effects of the pandemic were exacerbated by a very complex situation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, rising energy prices, the closure of many markets, and ongoing difficulties in the supply of components and raw materials. These factors had a strong impact, especially in the last quarter of 2022, which was reflected negatively in the balance sheet at the end of the year.

Despite all the circumstances, Italian customers maintained a sustained flow of investment, supported by strong incentives from central authorities to help them renew their machinery.

However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make forecasts for 2023: The well-known global challenges, the general economic situation that does not seem to affect families’ spending or new mortgages for the purchase or renovation of houses, and the strong technological renewal initiated by companies in recent years, certainly suggest cautious optimism that another very good year will follow.