Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU: "This is good news, but there are still major difficulties. As soon as we have the regulations under which the simplifications defined for 5.0 are implemented in practice, we are sure that domestic demand will regain the lost momentum."
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the order index for machine tools developed by the Centro Studi & Cultura di Impresa of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE recorded an increase of 11.4% compared to the period of October-December 2023. The absolute index value has settled at 78.7 (base 100 in 2021).
On the domestic market, the collected orders increased by 33.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, with an absolute value of 58.
In particular, orders received from abroad decreased by 6.5% compared to the same period last year. The absolute index value is at 83.6.
On an annual basis, the order index domestically remains negative with a decline of -5.6% compared to 2023, with an absolute value of 65.5; decline in domestic orders -3% (absolute value 39.6); decline in foreign orders -7.5%, with an absolute value of 84.3.
Riccardo Rosa, President of UCIMU, stated: "The overall result of order intake for 2024 is one of the most disappointing in recent years: we only performed worse in 2020; here, the foreign activity, which flourished sufficiently for a large part of the year, helped to contain the decline."
"Regarding the last quarter – Riccardo Rosa added – the double-digit increase is certainly good news, also because it confirms the slight turnaround we had already registered in the previous quarter. However, the development of the current year remains concerning, as in addition to the weak domestic demand, which can hardly recover, there is now a significant weakening of activity in foreign markets."
"The context in which we will work has numerous uncertainty factors both in Italy and beyond its borders. The reappearance of Trump on the world stage leaves everyone breathless. Without any prejudices, we remain in anticipation of his plans not only in economic policy. For us, the USA is the primary sales market, thanks to the excellent relationships we have built through years of vigorous work and collaboration. The American manufacturing industry, which the new president wants to revive, needs high-quality production and automation systems, and the Made in Italy product meets these demands perfectly. Therefore, the issue of tariffs is also an open question that might not necessarily surprise us negatively, especially in connection with the possible appreciation of the dollar against our currency."
Riccardo Rosa emphasized: "On the other hand, the difficulties in Germany, the weakness of Europe caused by the automotive issue, the closure of important markets such as Russia, and the increasing division of the world into two fronts with an ever more distant China, mean that companies in the sector must take new measures for internationalization to strengthen their presence in the countries of greatest interest. In this sense, the initiative Oficina Italiana de Promoción Mexico, launched by UCIMU in the second half of 2024, is an example of how representative organizations can support companies in a high-potential market."
"The situation in the domestic market is also not particularly rosy: although there was some movement at the end of the year, it is still quite minimal. Satisfaction with the achieved result is unfortunately limited for two reasons: on one hand, the value is compared to the last quarter of 2023, which was extremely low, and on the other hand, the order intake in the 4th quarter is slightly larger than in the previous quarters. However, if we look at the beginning of the year, we are sure that domestic demand will experience a boost as soon as we have the regulations under which the simplifications defined for 5.0 are implemented in practice."
President Riccardo Rosa concluded: "Given these conditions and the fact that the year 2025 coincides with the completion of measures 4.0 and 5.0, we make it clear to the government authorities the need to immediately think about a new industrial policy plan that accompanies the digital development of the Italian manufacturing industry. After 4.0 and 5.0, the development of industrial production continues along the path of technological innovation, which increasingly also includes artificial intelligence. To improve the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector, outdated machines must be replaced by rewarding those who invest in the latest production systems; even more so if these systems include data management and training. This needs to be worked on, and our association is ready to talk to the government authorities."
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