Ag machinery: strong growth in components

The first quarter of the year shows a clear increase in turnover for manufacturers of components for agricultural machinery and equipment. The domestic market and exports are doing well. According to Italian association Comacomp, the positive trend should continue in the coming months thanks to a high number of orders. The October rendezvous with EIMA International is a great opportunity to give further impetus to companies in the sector. To date, 520 exhibitors have been confirmed for the components exhibition alone.

The components industry for agricultural machinery and equipment is restarting at a faster pace than expected. Data from the periodic survey carried out by Comacomp (FederUnacoma) on the basis of surveys of member companies indicate a clear increase in total turnover in the first quarter of the year. 51.5% of the companies surveyed recorded increases of over 20%, and another substantial number of companies (22.5%) recorded increases of between 11% and 20%. The majority of companies (60%) have seen their turnover increase on the domestic market, but the expansion trend has also affected the share of turnover generated by exports. Sales in the European area have a great impact, with about half of Italian companies reporting increases in turnover of over 11% and one company in five reporting increases of over 20%. Non-European markets also performed positively: 53% of the sample recorded a growth in business, while a significant number of companies (35%) maintained last year’s levels.

According to Comacomp’s forecasts, the favourable economic situation is expected to continue in the coming months, since the order figures are clearly growing: for the April-June period, 29% of the companies surveyed estimate an increase in orders of more than 20%, while a further 26% expect growth of between 11% and 20%. Components thus confirm their place as one of the driving sectors of agricultural machinery, both in terms of production value (over 2.7 billion euros) and the ability to offer highly innovative solutions. EIMA International – the great exhibition of agricultural machinery scheduled to take place in Bologna from 19 to 23 October – is dedicating a specific space to this important sector, the EIMA Componenti exhibition, where 520 specialized manufacturers, 144 of whom are foreign, have already confirmed their participation (in addition to the companies making components for spraying and those for irrigation located in the “Idrotech” exhibition). From transmissions to engines, from electronic control units to on-board computers, from axles to the smallest mechanical gears, there are more than 350 product categories at the show. It is a much-awaited rendezvous for the industry’s players”, observes FederUnacoma, the direct organiser of EIMA, “not only because it will be the first “in person” event after exhibitions were stopped due to the health emergency, but also because it is being held at a time of great recovery for the market.