Market
UCIMA 
As for the breakdown of turnover between Italian domestic sales and exports for each client sector, Food remained the segment with the biggest share of domestic sales, while Others held the biggest export share.
ITALY, Via Emilia. The Italian packaging machinery industry has confirmed its position as one of the most dynamic Italian manufacturing sectors.
Ranked first in terms of share of total capital goods exports (24.4%), the industry consists of 631 companies located mainly along the Via Emilia, the road that runs from Milan to Rimini, with further manufacturing clusters located in the Piedmont, Veneto and Tuscany regions.
In terms of technology and market share, the sector competes for the global leadership with Germany and accounts for a quarter of world machinery exports. The industry is seeing steady growth, closing 2018 with total revenue of €7.85 bn., 9.4% up on the previous year. Growth continues to be strong in both the domestic and international markets. Domestic sales grew by 10.7% year on year to €1.6 bn., while exports amounted to €6.2 bn., an increase of 9%.
The European Union remained the most important market, accounting for 38.1% of total turnover (€2.05 bn.). Four of the Italian manufacturers’ largest markets are located in the EU: France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Asia ranked second with a value of €1.024 bn. (8% down on 2017) and a 19% share of turnover. The largest markets in Asia were China (ranked 8th overall), Japan (11th), India (16th) and Indonesia (19th).
The important North American market ranked third with €741.3 mill. (13.8%) and 25% growth over the previous year. This result was driven by the excellent performance in the United States, which saw 31% growth to €676.4 mill. and absorbed more than 90% of total exports to the region.
Next came Central and South America (€552.7 mill.; 10.3%) with Mexico and Brazil amongst the leading markets; non-EU Europe (€518.6 mill.; 9.6%), with the Russian Federation ranking 7th; and Africa and Oceania (€492.1 mill.; 9.1%).
Looking at the breakdown of turnover amongst the various client sectors, food and beverage maintained its dominant position in 2018 accounting for 55.3% of total turnover. Food was the largest client sector in 2018, making up 29.2% of total turnover (€2.293 bn.) and with an export share of 72%. As for the breakdown of turnover between Italian domestic sales and exports for each client sector, Food remained the segment with the biggest share of domestic sales, while Others held the biggest export share.
Source: UCIMA