Italian glass processing machinery has seen a positive trend strengthening its position with a rise in sales (+2.84%) and exports (+3.34%), however, the domestic market remains weak. The 2014 figures for the sector, prepared by GIMAV, Italian Manufacturers' Association of Machinery, Accessories and Special Products for Glass Processing, confirm that business activity has picked up across all sectors, despite lingering signs of weakness in the domestic market. Total sales increased, up 2.84% over 2013, largely due to sales of flat glass processing machinery. Percentage increases in the domestic market were steady,up by 14.97% over 2013. This result was mainly due to hollow glass, which posted a 43.80% increase, whereas the performance of flat glass remained at the same level as the year previously. Exports once again accounted for 80% of total sales in 2014. In 2014, the EU was the leading export destination for Italian products, accounting for over 50% of total exports. This figure confirms that demand from the industrialised economies of Europe has bounced back and has started to grow again.
