Anima data show marginal growth (+0.4%), highly polarized sectors, and competitive pressure from abroad
The first half of 2025 closed with overall exports of Italian mechanical engineering substantially stable, recording marginal growth of 0.4% (for a total of 19.84 billion euros) compared to the same period in 2024. This figure portrays a resilient sector but also a picture of growing uncertainty, with highly polarized percentage performances that reveal some sectors experiencing strong expansion and others in sharp contraction. These are the main findings emerging from the analysis conducted by the Statistics and Market Intelligence office of Anima Confindustria on data for the first half of the year.
The mechanical engineering sector continues to confirm its vocation for export, with approximately 60% of production destined for foreign markets. Nonetheless, the first-half data highlight contrasting trends that require particular attention.
Among the sectors that recorded the best performances, hydraulic and steam turbine manufacturers stand out, followed by commercial refrigeration equipment, which grew strongly with a 20.8% increase compared to the first half of 2024 (equal to €407 million in exports). Industrial ovens are in third place, with a 12.5% increase, as well as bakery machinery and ovens, which recorded an excellent +9.2%. The valves and faucets sector confirmed solid growth, remaining a pillar of Italian exports with over €3 billion (+4.6%).
On the other hand, the sectors experiencing the greatest difficulties showed significant contractions. Industrial forklifts suffered the sharpest decline, falling 20.2% from €1.31 billion to €1.05 billion. Internal combustion engines also recorded a sharp contraction of -19.7%, likely reflecting the ongoing transition to electric solutions and alternative energy sources.
On the international market front, in the first half of 2025, the United States confirmed its position as the leading destination (€2.3 billion in total), partly due to the increase in orders from overseas companies in recent months – with the aim of stockpiling ahead of the full implementation of the new tariffs. Precisely because of the tariffs, serious concerns remain for many mechanical engineering sectors starting in the second half of this year.
Germany, while remaining the second largest market for Italian exports (€1.87 billion and -3.3%), continues to show signs of weakness, confirming a negative trend that has now persisted for several quarters. France also shows increasing fragility (-6.3%), with marked contractions in various sectors, highlighting how economic and political instability is weighing on domestic industrial demand. Nonetheless, several Italian mechanical engineering companies have demonstrated their ability to diversify geographically, finding outlets in non-European markets – especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In Europe, exports to Spain have grown significantly (+13.1%), rising to fourth place among Anima mechanical engineering destinations, with a total of €934 million.
On the import front, data show significant overall growth of 6.7%, signaling growing competitive pressure from foreign suppliers. Particularly notable is the trend in aeraulic systems, whose imports increased by 26.9%, and in bakery machinery and ovens: +109% compared to last year. Household goods also saw an explosion in imports (+32.6%).
"The results of the first half of the year confirm that the Italian mechanical engineering industry, compared to the first half of 2024, has maintained substantial stability, once again demonstrating its resilience and ability to adapt," states Pietro Almici, president of Anima Confindustria."This figure, while positive in a complex international context, highlights a halt in growth. In recent years, the Italian mechanical engineering industry has demonstrated extraordinary strength and rebound ability, successfully diversifying its outlet markets even in critical moments. However, geopolitical tensions, the issue of US tariffs, the weakening of its main European partners, and growing competitive pressure from abroad generate uncertainty for the future. While maintaining its structural solidity, the mechanical engineering industry is facing increasingly pressing challenges. The ability demonstrated by Italian companies to maintain good positions on global markets is a positive element, but the situation requires constant attention and structural interventions to protect the competitiveness of a strategic branch for the entire national economy, without forgetting the social fabric implicitly involved. It is essential that national and European institutions support the sector with targeted industrial policies, promoting the competitiveness of companies and ensuring fair competition on international markets.
ANIMA Confindustria is the industrial trade organization that, within Confindustria, represents companies in the various and related mechanical engineering sectors, a sector that employs 221,700 people for a turnover of 55.5 billion euros and an export/turnover share of 59% (Anima Research Office data). The macro-sectors represented by ANIMA are: construction and infrastructure; material handling and logistics; food production; energy production; industrial production; safety and the environment.
Ucimu: orders index in the third quarter of 2026 rise (+10.5%) foreign orders (+24.7%); domestic ord
In the third quarter of 2026, the machine tool orders index compiled by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre recorded a 10.5% increase compared to the July-September 2025 period . In absolute value, the index stood at 58.9 (base 100 in 2021). In particular, orders collected across borders grew by +24.7% compared to the third quarter of 2025, for an absolute value of 108.6. Order intake in Italy, however, decreased by 7.1% compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 14.3. Riccardo Rosa , President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: " Domestic demand remains weak despite the numerous ongoing negotiations. The uncertainty of the international context and the increase in energy costs are clearly impacting the activity of Italian manufacturing operators, who are postponing investments pending greater clarity. We are therefore confident ," added President Riccardo Rosa , " that Italian demand will be able to regain momentum, also supported by the hyper-depreciation measure which, in version 5.0, allows for better planning of investments, which can be spread out until September 2028. " Italian manufacturers' activity on foreign markets, however, has been decidedly dynamic. In addition to the United States, where demand remains particularly strong, Germany is also beginning to show signs of recovery: certainly good news for the Italian industry in the sector. According to data processed by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre, in the first half of 2026 (latest available data), the main outlet markets for Italian supply in the sector were the United States (329 million euros +12.6%) and Germany (137 million euros, +7.6%), followed by France, Poland, and Spain. “In particular, the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as the energy sector, are driving orders, regardless of the country of reference,” concluded Riccardo Rosa . These are the latest sector data presented by the president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, Riccardo Rosa , on the occasion of the inauguration of 35.BI-MU, the international sector event taking place at fieramilano Rho from 12 to 16 October . Speakers at the meeting chaired by Rosa included Valentino Valentini , Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy; Giovanni Bozzetti, President of Fondazione Fiera Milano; Simona Greco , Hosted Exhibitions Director of Fiera Milano; and Luca Durante , Head of the Capital Goods Office at ICE-Agenzia. The second part of the event featured an interview with Gian Piero Cutillo, Co-General Manager of Leonardo, and Roberto Vavassori , Executive Director of Brembo and President of ANFIA, conducted by Paolo Bricco, Special Correspondent, Il Sole 24 Ore. The event features over 400 companies , spread across a total area of 40,000 square meters in pavilions 22 and 24. The spotlight will be on machine tools, robotics, automation, additive manufacturing, digital manufacturing, artificial intelligence, measurement and quality control systems, components, and enabling technologies for the smart factory. The event, promoted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE and organized by EFIM-ENTE FIERE ITALIANE MACCHINE, significantly enhances the thematic cultural dimension. Over 50 events are planned , including conferences, workshops, and round tables. New features this year include two special forums dedicated to the Aerospace & Defense and Energy sectors, strategic sectors that will be analyzed through the direct testimony of production and operations directors of some of the main international players and the CEOs of several Italian SMEs. In terms of training, the VLF4EU (Virtual Learning Factory for EU) International Conference is particularly relevant, focusing on an innovative training system based on the Digital Twin of the factory. The conference will feature around thirty researchers from Denmark, France, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Italy. The relationship between young people and the world of work will be explored in depth at the meeting " Value, Future, Impact. Work According to the New Generation ," organized by ANIPLA with the patronage of the UCIMU Foundation. These conferences are part of the Skills Area 's calendar of meetings. Located in Pavilion 24, the Skills Area will host initiatives promoted by UCIMU Academy and the UCIMU Foundation . Among these, ROBOTGAMES , the automation and robotics competition for secondary school students, now in its second edition, will once again be held.
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