Italian processing and packaging enterprises optimistic about 2014 recovery
Italy's economy is showing some tangible recovery signs, according to Ipack-Ima organizer, who released an Observatory analysis report, edited by Professor Giampaolo Vitali of the Business Economists Association.
According to the report, the processing and packaging supply chain, from manufacturers of machinery, materials and services distributed across no less than nine business communities, have performed better than the Italian industry average, which suffers from the first signs of the national economy’s slowdown in the first semester 2014 as well from the negative GDP growth still expected for the current year.
As said, companies are partially anticipating future recovery mainly due to increase in exports for the nine Ipack-Ima business communities (Beverage, Chemicals Industrial & Home, Confectionary, Dairy, Grain-Based Food, Hygiene & Beauty, Meat, Vegetable & Fruit and Pharma).
On the whole, in six out of nine business communities the sample shows a positive balance among those companies reporting an increase in revenues for the first semester 2014; in seven, companies report growing exports.
The sample of technology manufacturers studied by the Ipack-Ima Observatory includes 132 companies active in different business communities employing a total of 7,000 people for €2.2 billion in total revenues. They are mostly small to medium-size companies in the industry of machinery, materials/packaging and services.
The second semester is viewed in a positive perspective by all business communities, with no exception, including those that reported a negative revenue balance in the first half of the year, according to the report.
More specifically, Ipack-Ima technology suppliers revenue and exports expectations for the second semester 2014 are positive, with optimists outnumbering pessimists and the majority of companies expecting figures to remain stable.
Among users, optimists also beat pessimists in terms of expectations about revenues and especially exports, which shows the crucial role foreign demand plays in kicking off Italy’s economic recovery, said Ipack-Ima. Ultimately, it will be the ability to conquer export markets to propel the most dynamic segments forward, especially as long as the domestic demand remains stagnant.
