According to preliminary estimates announced by Acimall, Italian producers of wood processing machinery were confronted by a 9.8% decline in production value to €1.553bn in 2012. Over the last five years the sector has had to face turnover declines to the amount of 30%. The deterioration last year was not only due to the poor situation on the domestic market where turnover fell by 15% to €358m. Preliminary information also indicates a decline of 8% in the exports to €1.175bn. The decline in imports, however, at -13% to €126m was even more serious. Apparent expenditure in the area of wood processing machinery in Italy therefore fell by 14.5% to €484m. According to Acimall, German as well as Chinese competitors exported fewer machines to Italy than had been the case in 2011.
