Italian Exports of Stone Processing Machinery in 2024: A Mixed Picture

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In the first nine months of 2024, the value of Italian exports of machinery, tools, and equipment for processing natural stone experienced a decline of 12.3% compared to the same period in 2023. This contraction highlights challenges in the global market, but performance varied significantly across key trading partners.

Growth in Select Markets

Among the “top ten” buyers of Italian machinery and equipment, notable increases were recorded in several countries:

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  • Turkey: Exports surged by 34.7%, making it the second-largest market for Italian stone processing machinery during this period.
  • France: Sales rose sharply by 44.3%, moving France into third place among major importers.
  • Spain: A steady increase of 7.6% secured Spain’s fourth position.
  • United Kingdom: Exports grew by 22.3%, reflecting a strong rebound in demand.
  • Brazil: Sales improved by 5.4%, maintaining its status as a significant market (ninth place).

Declines in Other Markets

Conversely, several markets saw significant reductions in imports of Italian machinery:

  • United States: Despite being the largest importer, exports to the U.S. fell by 21%.
  • Canada: Sales decreased by 8.5%, reflecting a broader North American downturn.
  • Germany: Exports plummeted by 34.2%, marking the most substantial decline among the top markets.
  • Portugal: A 14.6% drop mirrored challenges in Southern Europe.
  • Poland: A sharp reduction of 23.9% placed Poland at the bottom of the top ten markets.

Contextualizing the Numbers

The United States retained its position as the largest market for Italian stone processing machinery, with exports during the first nine months of 2024 amounting to more than 1.8 times those to Turkey and about 2.2 times those to France. These figures underscore the U.S. market’s critical importance despite its significant decline.

Outlook

The mixed performance across key markets reflects both opportunities and challenges for Italian manufacturers in the stone processing machinery sector. While growth in countries like Turkey, France, and the UK is encouraging, addressing the decline in traditionally strong markets like the U.S. and Germany will be essential for stabilizing and revitalizing overall export performance.

Source: Markets Trends Analysis Office, CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE Association

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