Construction machinery: Italian market up in first quarter

The first quarter of 2015 saw sales on the Italian market of 1,605 units of construction machinery, an increase of 19% compared to same period in 2014. In detail, sales of earth-moving machinery came to 1,556 units (+16%) and road building machinery to 49 units (+390%).

“First quarter results,” says Paolo Venturi, President of Unacea, “confirm the trend already seen last year. However, we must remember that 80% of sales were lost over the last seven years, so this resumption of growth must be appropriately stimulated and encouraged. To this end, Unacea continues to seek more effective action to tackle hydro-geological risks which is urgently needed all over Italy. We are also waiting for the three-year plan for public works announced by the new Minister of Infrastructure, Graziano Delrio, with the hope that you this will stimulate a few good projects, implemented to perfection by using latest-generation technologies developed in an industry that still does not receive the necessary promotion.”

In 2014, according to Istat data processed by Unacea, exports of construction machinery were worth 2,460 million euros, representing a downturn of 1% on an annual basis. The most significant setback was sustained by drilling machines (-19%); exports also feel for concrete equipment (-6%), road-building machinery (-4%) and earth-moving machinery (-1%). On the other hand, there was growth in exports of inert aggregate machinery (+19%) and tower cranes (+17%).

Imports were worth over 545 million euros, up by 25% compared to 2013. The balance of trade is remains in the black by more than 1,914 million euros but posted a 7% setback on an annual basis.

CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY (units sold)
Reference period: January - March 2015
Construction machinery	1st quarter 2014	1st quarter 2015	%
Dozers	data not available	4	data not available
Track-laying excavators	176	264	50%
Wheeled excavators	18	19	6%
Wheeled loaders	131	136	4%
Backhoe loaders c/w 4 wheel steering	9	9	0%
Fixed backhoe loaders	19	8	-58%
Articulated backhoe loaders	3	6	100%
Mini excavators	698	905	30%
Compact skid steer loaders	94	84	-11%
Compact track-laying skid steer loaders	64	51	-20%
Articulated dumpers	6	9	50%
Telehandlers	124	65	-48%
Total EARTH-MOVING MACHINERY	1.342	1.556	16%
Rollers	7	21	200%
Vibrating finishers	3	28	833%
Total ROAD BUILDING MACHINERY	10	49	390%
Total CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY	1.352	1.605	19%

 

Source: Unacea - National Union of Construction Equipment & Attachments Companies

 

Founded in 2010, Unacea is the trade association open to all Italian construction machinery companies. It currently represent than 75% of turnover by the entire Italian earth moving and concrete machinery and equipment field.
Unacea is a member of CECE, the Committee for European Construction Equipment, which brings together national associations in 14 countries representing about 1,200 companies, for turnover of about 23 billion euros and 130 thousand direct employees.