The year 2025 turned out to be generally weak for the Italian manufacturing industry of machine tools, robots and automation systems, which saw production remain substantially stable compared with the previous year. The disappointing result was due to the sharp downturn in exports. A better performance was achieved in the domestic market, driven by the demand recovery. However, despite the double-digit increases, the figures remained far below the levels attained in 2021-2022.
Nevertheless, once again, the Italian industry of the sector proved to be among the key players on the international stage,holding fifth place worldwide for production and consumption and ranking fourth for exports.
The forecasts for 2026 estimate a modest recovery driven by an improvement in performance in the domestic market, also due to the availability of the Hyper-depreciation measure.Overseas sales are likely to remain weak.
This, in short, is the picture painted by the president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, Riccardo Rosa, during the General Members’ Meeting. The meeting also hosted a session featuring Barbara Cimmino, vice-president for Exports and Investment Attraction of CONFINDUSTRIA (General Confederation of Italian Industry), and Paolo Magri, president of the Scientific Committee of ISPI (Italian Institute for International Political Studies), moderated and interviewed by Rita Querzè, journalist for Il Corriere della Sera.
This was followed by a discussion between two young entrepreneurs, Luca Dadone and Elisa Stucchi, who spoke about their approach to innovation, focusing on AI and Augmented Reality applied to the manufacturing sector.
Over 150 guests attended the event, including entrepreneurs and managers from the sector, institutional and press representatives.
According to the final data processed by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU, in 2025, the Italian production of machine tools, robots and automation systems amounted to 6,391 million euro, rising by 1% versus 2024.
A significant drop was recorded in exports, decreasing by -12% to 3,760 million euro. The export-production ratio decreased to 58.8%, compared with 67.5% in 2024.
In 2025, the main export markets for the Italian product offering were: the United States (572 million euro, -9%), Germany (274 million euro, -24.9%), France (204 million euro, +0.2%), Poland (188 million euro, +11.2%), Turkey (168 million euro, -11.5%), India (164 million euro, -11.6%), Mexico (158 million euro, -10%), Spain (147 million euro, -6.5%), China (110 million euro, -54.1%), Brazil (84 million euro, +15.9%).
After two years of decline, Italian manufacturers’ deliveries to the domestic market started to grow again, reaching 2,631 million euro, corresponding to 28.1% more than in the previous year.This performance was driven by domestic consumption, increased by 22.3% to 4,534 million euro.
Imports attained 1,903 million euro, up by 15.1% versus 2024. The share of domestic consumption covered by foreign supply went down by three percentage points to 42%.
A downturn was reported in the capacity utilization rate, whose annual average changed from 77.3% in 2024 to 76.5% in 2025. The same trend was recorded with regard to the order portfolio, which stood at 6.3 months of guaranteed production versus 6.5 months in 2024.
The turnover of the sector did not exceed 9,330 million euro.
As shown in the forecasts provided by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU, the year 2026 will see a slight recovery for the Italian manufacturing industry of machine tools, robots and automation systems. All indicators are expected to return to positive territory, but the increases should still be modest.
Production should achieve 6,640 million euro (+3.9%). Exports shouldremain at the same level as in the previous year, amounting to 3,785 million euro (+0.7%).
The positive trend observed in the manufacturers’ deliveries to the domestic market will go on. Deliveries are expected to increase by 8.5%, reaching 2,855 million euro, driven by Italian demand, which should stand at 4,870 million euro (+ 7.4%).
Imports will also record a positive sign, achieving 2,015 million euro (+5.9%).
Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, pointed out: “Overall, 2025 was a disappointing year for Italian machine tool manufacturers, who, first of all, had to face a significant contraction in foreign sales. On the other hand, despite the recovery, even sales to the domestic market were not very satisfactory, also due to the confusion regarding Transition 5.0”.
“On the international front, the general situation of geopolitical instability made business particularly complicated for the sector represented by UCIMU, a sector whose production is primarily destined for foreign markets."
“That said, the events of the last few years have put our enterprises through a continuous stress test, training them to operate under unusual-business conditions as never before. Also owing to this – went on Riccardo Rosa – we observe that not everything that happens and that has a direct link with our world, impacts our business in the same way.”
TARIFFS “The tariffs introduced by the Trump administration had an impact that we have been able to manage. This is proven by figures: in 2025 - said Riccardo Rosa - sales to the United States decreased by 9%. However, the USA remains, by far, the leading export market for the “Made in Italy” in this sector. This is possible for different reasons: first of all, the United States does not have enough local production to meet its domestic demand and requires advanced, highly customised technology; moreover, at this particular moment in history, the defence sector - which is of strategic importance for Italy and thus exempt from customs duties – is experiencing fairly dynamic demand. These three factors have enabled, and still enable, Italian manufacturers to continue operating in the US market, which has always appreciated the characteristics of our product offering.”
“Even so, – added the president - this does not mean that the critical issues have been eliminated. For the categories of machines that are also produced by American manufacturers, the tariff is clearly a heavy burden that has limited the sales of the sector. But that is not all. Trump’s trade policy has generated some serious indirect effects; one example is the rise in the cost of certain raw materials imposed by other countries in response to the tariffs, a rise that also impacts our business.”
EUROPE AND THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR “However, it turned out to be more complicated to manage the impact of the wars and the weakness of an important major market such as the European one. With regard to wars, the most evident example for us as manufacturers, is the disappearance of Russia from our radars. In 2013, before the invasion of Crimea and the first sanctions, Russia was our fourth-largest export market, accounting for 177 million euro in exports. In 2022, it was our eighth destination market (with 99 million euro). Since 2023, we have had no presence in this market; moreover, we have handed it over to the Chinese manufacturers. We wonder whether, once this wound at the heart of Europe has been healed, we will be able to recover at least some of the ground we have lost.”
“And talking about Europe – stated Riccardo Rosa – we are moving dangerously close to the risk of de-industrialisation. The highly questionable decisions taken by the EU authorities concerning the transition to electric vehicles in the automotive industry are increasingly having tangible effects. At a time when the concept of transport is profoundly changing for the younger generations - since a car is no longer seen as a status symbol but as a means of travel - the European government authorities, with their dirigiste approach, have actually allowed Asian suppliers to invade areas that were traditionally the domain of our manufacturing sector. Before effects become irreversible, we ask our representatives and government authorities in Europe to re-consider their approach. We urge them to adopt an approach based on the principle of technological neutrality, thus enabling the automotive supply chain and its related sectors to manage the ongoing transition effectively, not only while respecting the environment, but also while safeguarding, where possible, the jobs of those working in the industry.”
“Apart from the car industry, to which it is strictly linked, Germany, “the sick man of Europe”, may start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In the first quarter of 2026, the machine tool order index, compiled by the German Association, showed a 15.1% upturn, thus halting the streak of negative results that had lasted for three consecutive years. The economic revival package introduced by Chancellor Merz, as well as the defence support planare restoring confidence in the country. We hope that this will indeed be the case, because if the German locomotive gets back on track, we – as the first carriage – are ready to follow, in order to continue working within the supply chains of “Made in Germany” production, which moves along long-distance routes, distributing our products to every corner of the world.”
THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CRISIS “While waiting to understand the detailed content of the agreement and realising that it will take time for the flow of goods to return to normal, the impact on our business is currently manageable and we are confident that the easing of tensions in the Middle East will bring significant benefits to our companies. In terms of direct business, the area absorbs about 30% of exports to Asia, so a return to “normality” will give a boost to our business in the region, where metal forming technologies are primarily in demand in response to large infrastructure development plans. Indirectly, restoring the flow of goods will lead to a gradual reduction in supply costs, which have risen sharply in the past few months.”
THE ITALIAN MARKET AND THE INCENTIVES “At a crucial time such as that we are currently experiencing, with extremely weak foreign demand, the domestic market is even more important for our enterprises. The availability of the Hyper-depreciation measure introduced by the new Transition 5.0 Plan, which is now fully operational, is an excellent tool to support Italian demand for new machine tools.”
“We must say that 2026 had a really difficult start: order intake on the domestic market had dropped significantly by 29% compared to the period January-March 2025. But the sentiment was that demand was frozen. In this first actual month of Hyper-depreciation, after the GSE Incentive Platform became operational, we have already observed a shift in the attitude of our Italian customers. This confirms our long-held position:there is demand in Italy, but customers have been awaiting clear guidelines to finalise their orders.”
“Now the incentive is working well. On the sidelines of the Mechanical Engineering Roundtable convened by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), at the end of June, it emerged that 90% of all applications for the allocation of resources submitted via the platform are for investments in machine tools. Very well, then! Despite the delay, the Ministry deserves credit for introducing a user-friendly measure with a three-year duration. At last, Italian enterprises have an industrial policy measure at their disposal, which enables medium-term planning for both manufacturers and investors. We hope that its implementation will enable Italian demand to return to the high levels achieved in 2021-2022, thus ensuring the necessary technological upgrading of our industry. This process requires constant innovation to remain competitive in the global market, where digital technology and AI are redefining the rules of the game.”
The general meeting of UCIMU coincides with the new election of the association’s officers for the two-year period 2026–2027. Riccardo Rosa is the sole candidate for the presidency of the Association.
