Preliminary figures compiled by the Mecs - Ucima Research Centre reveal 3.5% sales growth for the Italian packaging technology sector
The Italian packaging technology sector is set to close 2024 with outstanding results. Preliminary figures indicate a total turnover of €9.5 billion, marking a 3.5% increase compared to 2023. This achievement represents the fourth consecutive record year, reaffirming the sector's strategic importance to the national industry.

Italian publishing slows down after big jump in 2021: trade market -0.1% year-on-year in first six months of 2024. Data from the Italian Publishers Association's State of Publishing Report presented.

The German food machinery and packaging machinery industry increased its exports by 4 percent in the first half of 2024. In 2023, exports rose by 9 percent to 9.9 billion euros - a new record. Whether this level will be reached in the current year depends heavily on the further development of incoming orders.

In an economic context that continues to be exceptionally difficult and marked in 2023 by low consumption linked to massive destocking, many pulp and paper companies have seen a turnover decrease in the past year. A record high annual recycling rate indicates the industry’s autonomy and circularity.

 Production value increased to 16.5 billion euros

• Strong demand for packaging machines drives growth
• Positive expectations of industry companies for 2024

CICV calls for urgent reform as the sector struggles with payment delays and financial strain.

Despite government and industry past efforts to address financial challenges in the Scottish construction sector, the Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) has found construction businesses continue to struggle with late payments, payment reductions, and unresolved disputes, highlighting the significant gap between purported initiatives and actual improvements in payment practices.

Following the release of the latest UK manufacturing PMI today (1 November), Ginni Cooper, partner at MHA, believes manufacturers have little leeway for price reductions, even though material and energy costs have started to plateau:

Following the release of the latest UK manufacturing PMI today (1 September), Chris Barlow, partner at MHA, believes that another Bank of England (BoE) interest rate rise would further damage confidence within the manufacturing sector:

Following the release of the latest UK manufacturing PMI today (1 August), Andrew Matthews, partner at MHA, believes that as the era of pandemic support fades away we need a proper industrial strategy:

A 3.6% rise for the industry on 2021, which was also a record-breaking year.

Ucima chair Riccardo Cavanna stated: "The achievement is extraordinary, but investments are facing various obstacles"
The automatic packing and packaging machines industry marks a historic milestone: in 2022, the industry recorded a total turnover of 8.537 billion euros, improving the previous record set in 2021 by 3.6%.

Following the release of the latest UK manufacturing PMI today (3 July), Chris Barlow, partner at MHA, believes that the Bank of England’s (BofE) decision to raise interest rates and a lack of industrial strategy is stifling a sector in desperate need of a confidence boost:

Following the release of the latest UK Manufacturing PMI today (1 June), Guy Hodgkinson, partner at MHA, believes that despite manufacturing output falling for a 4th consecutive month, sector is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel as government-backed battery factory injects vital confidence back into industry: