According to the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers association, the industry achieved a production value of €2.29bn in 2017, up by 11.6% on the previous year.
Exports amounted to €1.6bn, 7.1% more than in 2016.
The top 10 export destinations included the US, which purchased Italian woodworking technology totaling €165.5m; Germany (€105.8m); Poland (€102.4m); and France (€92.5m).
The value of imports also increased to €199m up 10% on 2016.
Italy’s domestic market is also continuing to grow, driven by investment supporting measures introduced by the Italian government in recent years.
Italian wood machinery users invested €894m in 2017, up from €743m euro in 2016 and Acimall says that “everything suggests that in 2018 we could see the domestic market approach the €1bn threshold”.
Looking to the future, 72% of respondents to Acimall’s survey thought that orders from abroad would increase further.
