|
Italian Association of Automatic Packaging Machinery Manufacturers (UCIMA) Italian Packaging Machinery Industry Data Statistics: In the first half of 2021, revenues compared to the record-breaking same period in 2019, declined only 1.8%. Compared to the first half of 2020, growth was 21%. The industry remained stable in 2020, with revenues approaching 8 billion euros. The food and cosmetics sectors performed well.
The automatic packaging machinery industry in the first half of 2021 showed strong growth of 21% compared to the same period in 2020. Exports from January to June increased 19.3% compared to the first half of 2020, while domestic sales increased 31.2%. With these data, the entire industry has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, differing only -1.8% from the first half of 2019 (a record year with annual sales exceeding 8 billion euros). This performance is the combined result of first-quarter growth of 9.2% and second-quarter growth of 29.4% compared to the same period last year. Growth in both domestic markets (+34%) and export markets (compared to the previous year +28.4%) was similar. The Ucima-MECS Research Center also published order data, showing increases of 10.9% in the first half of this year and 10.7% in the second quarter year-over-year.
The Research Center also reported results for 2020 in the ninth national statistical survey, which annually provides an overview of the industry's performance. Last year, Italian automatic packaging machinery manufacturers basically maintained their revenue levels from the previous year. Following the record figures of 2019, the industry declined slightly by 2.9% year-over-year to 7.81 billion euros, consistent with results from 2018 (7.9 billion euros). Last year, the number of operating companies (a total of 635, up 3.1%) and number of employees both increased by 7% to 35,630 people.
Italian automated packaging machinery international and domestic markets
As in 2019, export sales accounted for 78% of total sales (6.08 billion euros), but declined 4.1%. The EU remains the primary target market for Italian packaging machinery, accounting for 41% of total turnover including Italian sales (2.087 billion euros), followed by Asia at 985.8 million euros representing 19.4%, then North America ranking third at 733.1 million euros (14.4%). Compared to 2019, North America was the only macro-region with revenue growth (+5.9%), with 2019 export figures dropping to 691.9 million euros. Next were non-EU Europe (8.6%, or 439.7 million euros), Africa and Oceania (8.4%), and Central and South America (8.2%).
The domestic market continued its positive trend in recent years, with sales in 2020 increasing 1.9% year-over-year to 1.72 billion euros.
Italian automated packaging machinery customer sectors
In the revenue breakdown by customer sectors, food and beverages maintained dominance in 2020, accounting for 58.2% of total revenue. More specifically, food alone accounted for 32.2% of total sales (2.516 billion euros), while beverages represented 26.0% at 2.032 billion euros. Food and beverages grew 1.7% in 2019.
As in 2019, the pharmaceutical industry ranked third with 1.356 billion euros (17.4% of total). Next came cosmetics, the only non-food sector that grew, with revenues of 348.7 million euros (+11.4%). Chemical industry was 270 million euros.
Revenue by machinery type and industrial structure
Primary packaging machinery remains the dominant category, accounting for 53.2% of revenue, followed by secondary packaging (18.8%) and end-of-line machinery (13.9%).
The 635 Italian packaging machinery manufacturers are mainly concentrated in the Emilia highway between Piacenza and Rimini (the so-called packaging valley), with additional production areas in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, and Tuscany. The revenue breakdown by category shows that small companies dominate (companies with revenue below 10 million euros account for 79% of total revenue), though they represent only 17% of total revenue. In contrast, structurally stronger industrial companies (51 companies with revenue exceeding 25 million euros) account for 68% of revenue and 74% of exports.
Italian packaging machinery 2021 outlook
Ucima Chairman Matteo Gentili commented that the first half of 2021 data fully demonstrates the excellent work our companies did continuing operations in 2020. In fact, the industry further developed and improved solutions in digital technologies during the difficult national and international situation, from which we are now benefiting. The resilience demonstrated in 2020 and growth in the first six months of 2021 confirms the solidity and vitality of our industry, which continues to play a strategic role. We are confident about the second half of this year and expect growth in several markets.
