Orders for Italian woodworking machinery and technology rose by 5.7% during the third quarter compared to a year ago, according to industry association Acimall.
Ambrogio Delachi, president of Acimall (the Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers’ association), described the figure as “encouraging” even though the growth rate was slower than in the preceding two quarters.
Foreign orders jumped by 23.2% but the domestic market continued to show a negative trend, with further shrinkage of 28.1%.
Companies’ average period of ensured production was about 2.5 months and prices increased by 1.8%, up from 1.5% in 2003.
Acimall’s quality survey shows 58% of interviewed companies report a stationary production trend, while 24% say it is growing and 15% declining.
