Optimistic beginning

The first 2011 survey carried out by the trade Association ASSOCOMAPLAST among its Members reveals quite positive sentiments among Italian manufacturers regarding forecast turnover in the first half of the current year, in comparison with July-December 2010. Just  under half of the respondents expect growing business and report that orders for January 2011 have topped those for the same month in 2010.
Good performance for exports, especially towards the EU and Asian countries. In the Far East, the trend of sales to China is still a little below average, though improving as revealed by the latest surveys.
The workforce is operating almost fully again and companies apply less and less for redundancy funds.