The orders of Italian woodworking machinery and tools confirm the positive trend of the industry also in the first quarter 2007, with 5.9 percent growth as compared to the first three months of 2006. This is the result of the quarterly survey by the Studies Office of Acimall - the association that gathers 221 manufacturers, accounting for 90% of Italian production - based on the figures collected from a sample that represents the entire industry in terms of dimensions and production categories.
The survey reveals the good health of Italian woodworking technology, thanks to an excellent trend on international markets (+8.1 percent in Q1 2007 as compared to Q2 2006). Unfortunately, this was not combined with a similar enthusiasm of Italian partners (+1.0 percent increase in technology orders from Italian companies).
A lively situation is characterizing prices which, according to the sample companies, from January 2007 have increased by 1.9 percent over 2006 as a whole. The period of ensured production amounts to 3.4 months, versus 3.1 months in the final quarter of last year.
According to the quality survey for the January-March period, 62 percent of the interviewed companies indicate a stationary production trend in the short term, 21% growing and 17% decreasing.
Available stocks are stable according to 62 percent of the sample companies, increasing for 21 percent and decreasing for 17 percent.
A stationary trend is also expected for employment according to 83 percent of the sample, while 14 percent expect an increase and 33 percent fear shrinkage.
The general mood is “serenity”: 55 percent of the sample of Italian entrepreneurs believe that, in the next few months, foreign orders will remain substantially stable according, while they will increase for 35 percent and shrink for 10 percent (positive balance +25). On the domestic market, things are not going to change - as compared to the January-March period - according to 48 percent of the interviewees; instead 38 percent expect “sustained” growth and 14 percent a decrease (positive balance +24).
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