The negative trend in Italy’s woodworking machinery sector is continuing, with latest figures showing a 3.5% drop in second quarter orders.
Acimall (the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association) said the fall was less pronounced than the first quarter, when orders dipped 11.4%, compared to the first three months of 2004.
Foreign orders decreased by 1.7%, while domestic sales suffered a 9.6% reverse. But prices have crept up by 1.3% since the start of 2005 and the industry’s average period of assured production is 2.7 months.
An Acimall survey reveals that 57% of interviewed companies indicate a stationary production trend, while 26% say it is growing and 17% decreasing.
Italian manufacturers are not too pessimistic. Only 10% of those surveyed expect a further shrinking of foreign and domestic orders.
