Heavy clay machinery: the Italian Industry Holds Its Ground in International Markets
Exports of Italian machinery for the brick and tile industry account for over 80% of the sector’s revenues.
Foreign markets continue to prove strategic for the Italian heavy clay machinery industry. In 2024, despite a downturn following four consecutive years of growth, exports generated a value of €83 million, accounting for 81.8% of total revenues, while the remaining 18% came from the Italian market, where sales reached €18.5 million. The data comes from the 33rd National Statistical Survey conducted by the MECS-Acimac Research Centre and presented during the association’s annual assembly.
Among the major geographic export areas, the European Union remained the main destination market, with revenues of €26.5 million, followed by non-EU Europe with €25.2 million. South America generated €11.2 million, while Africa contributed €9.4 million. The Middle East ranked fifth with €4.9 million, followed by North America at €2.8 million. Sales in China remained stable, while the Oceania region posted positive growth.
Photo courtesy of FBM
Best-selling types of machine
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).
Despite a decline, forming and extrusion plants confirmed their position as the second most sold category, with revenues of €15.8 million (15.6% of the total), followed by moulds and dies (€15 million, or 14.7% of the total).
Sales of firing machinery generated €14.9 million (14.7%), marking only a 1% decrease from the previous year, while dryers accounted for 12.6% of total revenues, amounting to €12.8 million. Clay preparation machinery produced revenues of €11 million, corresponding to 10.9% of the total.
Although representing smaller turnover volumes, notable growth was recorded in sorting, packaging, and palletizing machines (+113%, reaching €7.7 million, 7.6% of the total), as well as in machinery and plants for brick and tile glazing and decoration, which grew by 8.4%.
Photo courtesy of Confindustria Ceramica
The Italian market
In the Italian market alone, storage and handling machinery accounted for 25.4% of total sales, with revenues of €4.7 million, up 14% from 2023. In second and third place were moulds and dies (€3.4 million) and clay preparation plants (€2.6 million).
Sales in 2024 saw strong increases in sorting, packaging, and palletizing systems (+148.5%), as well as in finishing and special processing machines (+269%) and glazing and decorating plants for bricks and tiles (+24%).
Photo courtesy of FBM
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