As anticipated, the recovery after the crisis is going to influence the statistical data related to Italian exports of plastics and rubber machinery, equipment and moulds. New orders at the end of 2009 and those increased during the current year, have supported the Italian sales abroad that jumped ahead from -1.7% in January-April 2010 (compared with the same period in 2009) to +3.5% in January-May 2010. A reversing trend (from negative to positive) that, after the hard crisis of last year, permits to be optimistic (with due caution) for the near future. In fact, exports of almost all the main processing technologies have gone up: flexographic printing machinery +18.3%; injection moulding machines +15.7%; extruders and thermoforming machines +10%. Only blow moulding recorded a decrease (-1.6%). As for moulds (the main export item with a 28% share on the total) from January to May, 2010, foreign sales have increased "only" by 1.3%. The above statistics prove the (cautious) optimism on the sector trend that is also confirmed by the monthly survey carried out by ASSOCOMAPLAST (Italian plastics & rubber processing machinery and moulds manufacturers' Association) among its Members. As mentioned, in the coming months we can expect a further strengthening of sales, of course without the insurgence of external factors (financial crisis, country insolvency etc.) that cannot be foreseen.