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Italian Woodworking Machinery: State of the Industry Report 2013

For the Italian woodworking machinery industry, 2013 might end up better than expected in recent months. This fact is supported by data on the third quarter provided by ACIMALL, the Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tools Manufacturers’ Association (see chart).

The trend is slightly more positive with an increase in orders of 3 percent, as compared to the 3Q/2012. This time, the increase is also backed by a stronger domestic market, with an increase in orders of 14.4 percent. A quite surprising growth after two years of drought, in which domestic orders have marked record lows. Regarding foreign demand, over the previous quarter, a 0.3 percent rise in orders can be noticed in July-September 2013. This indicates a substantial ''stability'', a further positive step to the consolidation of the strong Italian woodworking machinery industry propensity towards exports, says ACIMALL.

The orders book spans 2.4 months, while from the beginning of the year prices have increased by 1.2 percent (0.9 percent in the previous quarter). Unfortunately, turnover decreased in the July-September period: minus 3.8 percent compared to the same period of 2012. The survey conducted by ACIMALL, among its members, reveals that 25% of the respondents have indicated a positive trend in production; 50 percent indicated stability and 25 percent a decline in production levels.

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Employment is considered stationary by 75% of the respondents, as falling by 15% and increasing by 10%. In addition, ACIMALL says that in April-June 2013, none of the present respondents had mentioned any possibility of new hirings. Available stocks are stable in 55% of the cases, as decreasing in 25% and growing for 20%.

The short-term dynamics of the sector emerges from the results of the survey: once again some optimism characterizes the views on exports; at the same time, a decrease in pessimism about the performance of the domestic market can be observed, although there are still few who indicate an improvement in the short term. 30% of respondents believe in an increase in foreign orders, 45% opted for stability and 25% for a contraction. 20% of the ACIMALL's survey respondents say that the domestic market will mark a decline, 75% indicated stabilty and five percent opted for growth.