Milan – The Italian rubber & plastics processing machinery sector is expected to record a double-digit growth compared to last year and is set to deliver a strong performance in 2022, according to the latest report by industry association Amaplast.

“At the close of 2021 production should be a hair’s breadth from pre-pandemic levels, reaching €4.35 billion and an impressive 11.5% [growth] compared to 2020,” said Amaplast president Dario Previero.

The primary driver of recovery, said Amaplast in a 2 Dec statement, is the domestic market, which is forecast to close the year with growth of nearly 15 points and a value of €1.35 billion. 

Based on the first nine-month survey, the surge in orders was mainly due to demand for machinery and complete processing lines.

Value of export orders is estimated to come in at €3 billion, giving a boost to the balance of trade. 

According to Amaplast, among leading export destinations China has seen an 83% growth in demand while Poland has posed a 17% rise. 

“Eight of the top 10 Italian export destination countries, collectively absorbing nearly 60% of the total, show strong growth in demand,” the association added.

Amaplast expects orders received in the first three quarters of the year, both from Italian and foreign customers, to cover production for the next six months.

The orders, it said, and are mainly for machinery while the replacement parts segment “appears somewhat less dynamic.” 

In terms of application, “the highest and most sustained demand” has been from the packaging and medical sectors, while construction and automotive sectors have shown moderate improvements. 

Despite the growth, Previero pointed to “various factors of instability” which arose over the course of 2021.

These included the rising cost of raw materials, shortage of components, increase in energy and transport costs as well as restrictions on personal mobility.

These factors, Previero went on to say, “are still unresolved and continue to be sources of concern for companies.”

“However, the clear recovery recorded in 2021... gives us good reason to expect performance beyond pre-crisis levels already next year.

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