Minister for business and made in Italy, Adolfo Urso participates at the Unacea assembly via video message
In the first three months of 2024, 4,169 construction equipment have been placed in the Italian market, with a 22% reduction if compared to the same period of 2023. Precisely, 4,002 earth-moving machines (-23%) and 167 road machines (+16%) were sold between January and March 2024. Figures were released during the annual Unacea assembly by Stefano Fantacone (scientific director of Cer – Centro Europa Ricerche), who also presented the latest Unacea-Cer Report, which forecast for 2024 a drop in domestic construction equipment sales between 5 and 8%.
Positive the results of foreign trade, as indicated by the latest Unacea-Cer foreign trade report based on Istat data: exports surpassed €3.5 billion between January and December 2023, marking a 14% growth if compared to 2022. Imports also increased (+9%), totaling over €2 billion. The trade balance remained positive at over €1.2 billion, showing a 23% growth from the previous year.
“After the market boom of 2022, construction equipment sales experienced a 7% decline in 2023, a trend accelerated in the first quarter of 2024 with a 22% downturn, possibly due to a wait and see effect generated by expectations for future industrial policies – said Michele Vitulano, president of Unacea. However, we must consider that the sales levels reached in previous years were very high and the current trend reflects a natural decline.
“We must work together to face the upcoming challenges – stated Adolfo Urso, Minister of enterprises and made in Italy, in a video message sent to the Unacea industrial assembly. Starting with complete decarbonization by 2050 through improving energy efficiency and renovating the building stock. It is time to set a sector specific policy more attentive to medium and long-term repercussions. Construction sector businesses are urged to strengthen their position by increasingly investing in innovation and competitiveness. A significant contribution toward adopting the most advanced technologies and integrating sustainable practices can be provided by transition plan 5.0, which allocated a total of €13 billion to support all enterprises willing to innovate in technology.”
Read all the report here.
