In the fourth quarter of 2023 orders of machine tools went down 31.1%.

In the fourth quarter 2023, the index of machine tool orders compiled by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE showed a 31.1% fall compared to the period October-December 2022. The absolute value of the index stood at 92.1 (base year 2015=100).

The negative performance was due to the reduced order intake in the domestic market, whereas foreign sales showed resilience.

In particular, the orders collected abroad dropped by 2.9% compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index was 100.9.

On the domestic front, orders marked a 69.1% downturn, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, for an absolute value of 79.4.

On annual basis, the index marked a 24.7% decrease compared to the 2022 average (absolute index 90.5). Domestic index -48.4% (absolute index 74.6); foreign index -11.3% (absolute index 102.8).

Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, pointed out: “The data processed by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU confirm our expectations: 2023 marked an evident reduction in the orders received by Italian manufacturers in the domestic market, which is counterbalanced by a general stability in the foreign markets. Overall, despite the negative sign, our companies are working intensively, thanks to the queue of orders that still have to be processed.”

“With specific reference to the domestic market, the decline in the collection of new orders is not unexpected and corresponds to a general downturn in demand after the boom experienced in the last period. On the other hand, if we focus on the last quarter, the fall is also and mainly affected by the waiting effect for the new incentive measures that were expected and still are expected for 2024.”

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