Encouraging first quarter

Import-export data referred to the first quarter of 2011 - released by the Italian statistics office and worked out by Assocomaplast-Italian plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers association - still confirm the positive trend of the sector trade which has started in mid-2010.
In last January-March, imports reached 130 million euro whilst export almost topped 500 millions. It means, respectively, a 12% and a 24% increase over the same period in 2010.
At exports, extrusion lines were still performing very well and sustained the sales towards important destination markets such as Germany, China, Poland and Brasil, which all ranked in the top ten. It shall be highlighted that besides these countries, also the US and India jumped among the very first position in the classification, as their imports from Italy of plastics and rubber machinery increased considerably.
At the same time, the latest monthly survey carried out by Assocomaplast revealed a still positive sentiment among the Italian machinery manufacturers both as regards turnover and exports trend in the first half of the current year. More steady the level of order collection during the very last months.