ASSOCOMAPLAST

Italy's rubber and plastics industry still down in 2009 / Exports shift towards Latin America and Asia / Giorgio Colombo confirmed as new chairman

Italy’s market for plastics and rubber machinery, equipment and moulds is still reeling under the pervasive economic downturn, with production down EUR 900m year-on-year in 2009, at EUR 3,300m. Detailed figures for the country’s plastics and rubber industries were presented at a recent general assembly meeting of the Italian plastics and rubber processing machinery and mould manufacturers’ association Assocomaplast (Milan; www.assocomaplast.org). In 2007, the industry trade balance still had EUR 2,118m in surplus. By 2009, that figure had dropped to EUR 1,919m. Imports fell to EUR 472m (2008: EUR 607m), while exports took a tumble to EUR 1,853m last year (EUR 2,523m).

While exports to Europe, the Middle East, NAFTA and Oceania were down, Assocomaplast’s data actually shows a year-on-year increase for goods shipped to the Far East, South and Central America, as well as Africa. A similar shift, especially toward the east, was also observed by the German plastics and rubber machinery association KuG (Frankfurt; www.kug.vdma.org) – see PIEWeb of 04.06.2010.

All is not gloom, however. Some 70% of respondents to a recent Assocomaplast survey reported that their order book situation in May 2010 trumped that of the previous year, with 45% of those polled even testifying to growth over April 2010. When queried about how they saw business develop in H1 2010 as compared to H1 2009, 45% of respondents said business was up, while 46% reported stability.

During its 9 June meeting, the Assocomaplast general assembly also gave its stamp of approval to the earlier appointment of Giorgio Colombo as new chairman. Colombo had been unanimously proposed by Assocomaplast’s committee in May – see PIEWeb of 14.05.2010. Other personnel changes include the appointment of Alessandro Grassi as vice-chairman and Mario Maggiani’s nomination to the post of secretary general.

(plasteurope.com)