The Italian machine tool, robotics, and automation systems sector experienced a significant downturn in 2024, with a sharp drop in key economic indicators, according to Ucimu-Sistemi per Produrre, the industry’s association. Despite a modest expectation for a market recovery, Ucimu does not foresee substantial improvements in 2025.
Preliminary data reveals a decline in production to €6.745 billion in 2024, marking an 11.4% decrease compared to the previous year. This fall was largely driven by a steep drop in domestic deliveries, which plummeted by 33.5% to €2.255 billion. Domestic consumption also suffered a sharp contraction of 34.8%, reaching €3.795 billion, compounded by a 36.5% drop in imports, which totaled €1.54 billion.
Despite these domestic struggles, Ucimu’s president, Riccardo Rosa, highlighted a positive shift in export performance. Exports reached a record €4.49 billion, up 6.3% from 2023, indicating that Italian manufacturers have managed to strengthen their position in foreign markets.
According to Ucimu’s analysis of Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT) data from January to August 2024, the United States emerged as the leading export destination for Italian machine tools, with a 17.8% increase in sales, reaching €419 million. Other notable markets included Germany (€243 million, +12.3%), India (€132 million, +100%), China (€138 million, -15.3%), and France (€125 million, -9.3%). Overall, the export-to-production ratio climbed to 66.6%. Looking ahead, Ucimu anticipates a slight recovery in 2025, with production expected to rise by 2.9% to €6.94 billion.
Rosa described 2024 as “a completely lost year” for Italy’s machine tool industry, with the sector struggling to recover despite efforts to boost overseas sales. “After the summer, it became clear that 2024 would be a lost year. Italian manufacturers were unable to compensate for domestic weaknesses by focusing on export markets,” he explained. He also expressed concern over potential changes in US tariff policies that could impact the sector’s international trade dynamics.
Rosa also voiced alarm over broader challenges facing Italy’s industrial landscape, particularly the ongoing shift towards electric vehicles. He warned that the European Union’s plans to phase out internal combustion engines could trigger economic and social disruptions, especially in the automotive sector. The closure of automotive factories and mass layoffs have already begun to ripple through related industries, potentially creating a broader social crisis. “We cannot allow this to happen,” Rosa stressed, urging industrial stakeholders to raise their voices before the situation worsens.
As Italy’s machine tool sector grapples with both domestic and global challenges, the future remains uncertain. However, the sector’s resilience in export markets offers a glimmer of hope for a gradual recovery.