Italian market looks up

The Italian construction industry is showing signs of recovering, with sales in construction equipment up 16% during the first half of 2014, according to figures from Italian construction equipment trade association UNACEA.

The first half of the year saw 3,134 units sold, comprising 3,095 earthmoving machines and 39 road machines.

However, Paolo Venturi, president of UNACEA, urged caution. He warned that Italy was far from a stable and long-lasting recovery, citing that the Italian construction equipment market had dropped by 80% in the last six years.

UNACEA placed the value of Italian construction equipment production at €2.5 billion in 2013 - 52% less than the market peak of 2008, which saw the industry valued at €5.2 billion. The trade association predicted production value would increase between 2% and 4% in 2014.

According to data released by the Italian Institute for Statistics, the first four months of 2014 saw exports of construction equipment reach €765 million, up 2% on 2013 figures.

Gains were most positive in exports of road machines, up 16%, and crushing and screening equipment, up 8%. Concrete equipment saw export gains of 6% and earthmoving machines were up 3%.

Export of tower cranes remains stable, while the export of drilling machines dropped 14%. Imports grew 23%, with a value of €140 million.