Also in the last quarter of 2020, the collection of machine tool orders recorded a negative sign. In particular, the UCIMU index of machine tool orders, prepared by the Association’s Business Studies & Culture Center, shows, in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 18.1% compared to the same period of the previous year. In absolute value, the index stood at 86.4 (base 100 in 2015).
The negative performance of the domestic market and the weakness of foreign demand weighed on the overall result.
In particular, the collection of orders on the domestic market recorded a decline of 28%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. The absolute value of the index stood at 123.9, therefore still very high despite the reduction.
On the foreign front, orders fell by 14% compared to the period October-December 2019. The absolute value of the index stood at 78.7.
On an annual basis, the total index marks a decline of 18.6% compared to the previous year. The result was determined by the drop in orders collected on the domestic market (-35.1%) and by the reduction in those collected on the foreign market (-13.6%).
“The decline recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020 – said Barbara Colombo, president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE – gives the dimension of the difficulties that manufacturing, not only Italian, is going through due to the health emergency”.
