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.
Not just another marketplace: a-z maschinenwelt launches its own online auctions of used machinery w
On auctionz.de, the Weinstadt-based machinery dealer will be auctioning exclusively machines he owns from September 2026 – the first auctions will end at the beginning of October. AZ Maschinenwelt GmbH, headquartered in Weinstadt near Stuttgart, is launching auctionz (auctionz.de), its international online auction platform for used industrial and production machinery, in September 2026. Unlike most auction portals, only company-owned machinery and equipment will be auctioned. With auctionz, AZ Maschinenwelt has consciously chosen not to act as a marketplace or intermediary for third-party sellers, remaining what it has always been: a machinery dealer with a personal relationship with its customers, who is personally responsible for its goods. The first auctions will close in early October 2026. TRANSPARENCY INSTEAD OF ANONYMITY Many auction platforms in the machinery trade operate as mere intermediaries. Buyers often don't know exactly who is behind the goods they're offering or who is responsible for any technical questions they may have. At auctionz, things are different: every machine offered has been personally inspected by the team, examined, photographed, and truthfully described. From the initial technical question to purchase and payment, through to disassembly, loading, customs documentation, and export management, buyers have a direct contact. Thomas Reichelt, managing director, AZ Maschinenwelt GmbH: The market doesn't need another platform where anyone can list anything. And that's exactly what we don't want to be. We remain machinery dealers: we buy the goods ourselves, we know our machines, and we personally answer for what we offer. With auctionz, we're simply using a new means to market machinery even more transparently and internationally—without sacrificing personal responsibility. Adnan Saeed, founder and managing director, AZ Maschinenwelt GmbH: We don't sell any machine we haven't seen with our own eyes. Thomas or I personally stand in front of every machine before it goes to auction. What we photograph and describe corresponds to the condition the buyer will find—that's what we want to be judged on. INSOLVENCY, CESSATION OF BUSINESS AND SURPLUS MACHINES The machines up for auction originate from insolvencies, company and plant closures, restructurings, and excess inventory, as well as from the purchase of entire machine parks and production sites by AZ Maschinenwelt. The offering is aimed at medium-sized manufacturing companies, international machinery dealers, workshops, and industrial end customers worldwide.• Conventional machine tools• CNC machines and machining centers• Complete production plants• Metalworking• Woodworking• Plastics technology• Measurement technique• Compressors and compressed air• Warehouse and factory logistics• Workshop and company equipment HOW AUCTIONS WORK Auctions are conducted entirely digitally. Upon request, an automated bidding agent will raise the bid up to the maximum amount set; if bids are placed shortly before the closing time, the auction is automatically extended. A 9 percent commission is added to the hammer price. Any disassembly and loading costs are shown separately and transparently, as are any transferred cost items, without any additional margin. Even after the auction has been awarded, AZ Maschinenwelt provides comprehensive support to its customers, upon request including the entire handling of BAFA paperwork, export, and customs documents, up to the machine's collection. PLATFORM LAUNCH: September 2026 FIRST AUCTIONS END : Early October 2026 FORMAT : Fully digital online auctions with bidding agent and automatic extension CONDITIONS : 9% commission on the hammer price; dismantling/loading as costs transferred without markup SERVICES : Personal contacts; BAFA, export and customs management up to collection URL : www.auctionz.de WHO IS AZ MASCHINENWELT? AZ Maschinenwelt was founded in 2011 by Adnan Saeed and has operated as a limited company since 2025, headquartered in Weinstadt near Stuttgart. The company trades in used industrial and production machinery internationally, handles complete company liquidations, and handles disassembly, logistics, and warehousing. Approximately 20 employees work at the Weinstadt (administration) and Weilheim an der Teck (warehouse and showroom) locations; sales are conducted in Europe, North America, Asia, and other global markets. Since January 2025, Thomas Reichelt has led the company alongside Adnan Saeed. Further information is available at www.az-maschinenwelt.com and www.auctionz.de.
Industriale.it certification