In the period January-March of the current year, according to figures released by ISTAT (Italian Statistic Institute) and analysed by Acimall Studies Office, exports of Italian woodworking machinery compared to the same period of 2004 remained stable, with a slight decrease by 1,8% indicated by the 256 million € of absolute value. (The data refer to all stationary machinery, while tools and portable machines are not considered, due to the promiscuity of international custom codes). Said figures resulted from the recovery of the North-American markets and the firm shrinkage of the Far East.

In particular, exports towards the Nafta area increased by 17,9%, reaching 37 million € consisting in: USA (25,7 million €, +13,9%), Canada (8,5 million €, +30,0%) and Mexico (2,7 million €, +23,5%). Positive signs were registered also in South America, mainly in Brazil  (4,4 million €, +49,4%) and Argentine (0,7 million €, +214%).

The total exports to South America amounted to 7,4 million €, with an increase by 41,7% due to the low figures of the first quarter 2004.

As mentioned, exports towards the Far East decreased by 38,1%, mostly because of the negative results of the Chinese market. The China + Hong Kong system bought Italian machines for 6 million €, 62,8% less than in the previous year.

The evolution of the Middle East area is characterized by the positive signs of Israel (1 million €, +57,4%) and the Arabian Emirates (2 million €, +118,3%), while Iran shrinked heavily during the first three months of 2005 (0,9 million €, -91,1%) after the positive trend of 2004.

The European Union, the first market for Italian exports, registered a slight rise: 3,3% and 116 million € of absolute value. The United Kingdom (15 million €, +29,7%) and Germany (16 million €, +13,8%) performed well, while no positive signals arrived from Spain (25,7 million €, -4,2%) and Greece (4,7 million €, -17,2%).

In order to maintain a uniform statistical system, Extra-UE figures of this year still include the Countries that in 2004 joined the Union. The slight shrinkage by 1,0% on the same period of 2004 (60,8 million €) regards mainly Russia (8,8 million €, -22,7%), after the expansion of the last two years. The most positive results were registered in Turkey (7,1 million €, +6,8%), Poland (7,0 million €, +11,2%) and Ukraine (1,7 million €, +48,6%).

As in the past, the role of Africa is still marginal (12,0 million €, -2,9%), with the only positive trend of South Africa (3,1 million €, +82,2%) and Algeria (2,4 million €, +60,8%).

Oceania confirms the development of the market: exports reached 7,2 million €  (+31,6%) towards Australia and 1,7 million € (+34,1%) towards New Zealand.

The shrinkage of the Italian woodworking machinery imports of the last year continued, with a contraction by 2,3% (29,0 million €). The main suppliers are Germany (12,7 million €, +7,6%), China (2,3 million €, +67,9%) and the US (1, 0 million €, +20,6%).

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