The latest Acimall survey shows overall UK woodworking technology imports from five of the world’s six leading exporters – Germany, Italy, China, Austria and the US – rose 7.2% in the period.
The US and Canada are also investing more in woodworking machinery – with import growth rates of 15% and 22% respectively, while Lithuania (+134%) and Serbia (+48.9%) were other bright spots in Europe.
Declines were experienced by France (-8.7%), Belgium (-22%) and Switzerland (-7.3%), while Brazil and China witnessed reductions of 68% and 31% respectively.
Acimall’s study show Germany remained the world’s leading woodworking technology exporter in the first half of 2013, with exports worth €753.6m, 14.8% down on a year ago.
Italy followed on €513.2m (-7.91%), then China and Taiwan with €331.6m and €203m respectively (little change for both). Austrian exports grew 1.5% to €171.4m and US exports rose 8.3% to €152.9m.
The US remains the biggest market worldwide, with a positive trend there for all supplying countries. Acimall reported a "massive" flow of Asia-manufactured equipment into the US with Germany leading the crop of European exporters.
Meanwhile, Acimall’s Q3 survey among Italian woodworking machinery manufacturers revealed a 3% rise in orders, with the domestic market the strongest driver (+14.4%) and exports +0.3%) stable.
