Heavy clay machinery sales fall in 2024
The revenues of the Italian heavyclay machinery manufacturers fell to 101 million euros, with more than 80% generated in foreign markets.
After four consecutive years of growth, the Italian heavy clay machinery industry saw a downturn in 2024. According to the 33rd National Statistical Survey conducted by the MECS-Acimac Research Centre and presented at Acimac’s annual members’ meeting, the sector’s total turnover fell to €101.4 million, down 24.7% from €134.6 million in 2023. This contraction marked a return to 2022 levels, when turnover stood at €108.9 million.
Although it still accounts for 5.6% of the Italian ceramic machinery and equipment industry’s overall revenues (€1.824 billion in 2024), heavy clay machinery has dropped from second to third place among customer sectors behind ceramic tiles and sanitaryware.
Photo courtesy of Marcheluzzo
Exports account for over 80% of revenues
While sales on the Italian market generated a turnover of 18.5 million euros (-24.8% compared to 2023), foreign markets continued to prove strategic for Italian manufacturers of heavy clay machinery. Exports accounted for 81.8% of total turnover in 2024 at €82.9 million (24.6% less than the €110 million of 2023).
The decline affected all export regions. The EU remained the largest destination market with sales of €26.5 million (-7.6% compared to 2023), followed by non-EU Europe with €25.2 million (-37.8%). South America generated €11.2 million (-34.9%), while Africa contributed €9.4 million (-20.8%). The Middle East ranked fifth with €4.9 million, down 23.2%, followed by North America with €2.8 million (-13.2%). China showed zero growth, while Oceania made significant gains.
Which type of machines were the best-selling?
Among the various types of machinery sold last year on domestic and foreign markets, storage and handling machinery topped the rankings at €17.3 million (17.1% of the total), followed by firing machinery at €14.9 million (14.7%), down 1%.
Sales of sorting, packaging and palletising machinery grew by 113% to €7.7 million, equivalent to 7.6% of the total. Glazing machinery also saw growth (+8.4%).
Forming and extrusion machinery generated €15.8 million (15.6% of the total), down 20.5% compared to 2023, while drying machinery fell by 50.9% to €12.8 million (12.6% of turnover).
Sales of clay preparation machinery dropped by 43.3% to €11.05 million (10.9% of the total).
With regard to the Italian market alone, storage and handling equipment accounted for 25.4% of total sales at €4.7 million, whereas drying machinery sales plummeted by 77.5% to just €1.3 million.
Sorting, packaging and palletising machinery recorded strong growth (+148.5%), as did finishing and special processing machinery (+269%).
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