The United States and Gulf countries could suffer a sharp setback due to new tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Germany remains stable, China collapses.
In 2025, Italian mechanical engineering exports grew by 3.2%, in line with the overall increase in national exports of 3.3%. This result shows Italy's superior performance compared to its main European partners, but it does not indicate the sector's complete solidity. Growth is driven by specific geographic areas, while the domestic market remains stagnant.
A significant share of the export surplus is concentrated in the United States , which confirmed its position as the leading destination for Anima mechanical engineering in 2025 with over 4.9 billion euros (+12.3%), but the recent announcement by the White House of additional duties on aluminum and steel articles, some copper articles and some aluminum and steel derivatives could have a strong impact on the export of mechanical engineering represented by Anima Confindustria.
"The 2025 growth reflects a geographical redistribution of demand, with concentration in a few key markets and weakening in others," says Pietro Almici , president of Anima Confindustria. "The data must therefore be interpreted carefully, especially in light of the current macroeconomic environment, characterized by declining industrial expectations and rising costs, but above all by a climate of uncertainty prevailing internationally. The situation in the Gulf countries, a region of great interest for the Italian mechanical engineering industry, could suffer a significant setback; similarly, the recent White House announcement of changes to tariffs on copper, aluminum, and steel products could have a significant impact on our exports."
The sentiment among mechanical engineering companies is moving in this direction: according to the latest survey of member companies, approximately 40% of the sample expects a decline in exports in the first half of the year. Companies are particularly concerned about the future of the American market and the current situation in the Middle East.
Precisely because 2025 confirmed the strength of mechanical engineering exports, the current international scenario is even more critical; however, the sector maintains a structured presence and competitive capacity on global markets, starting with the Persian Gulf area, also through results such as the Memorandum signed between Anima and the Italian-Arab Chamber of Commerce to strengthen internationalization opportunities. Internationally, tensions in the Gulf countries therefore pose a high risk, both for exports and for the potential increase in energy costs —up to €21 billion for Italian companies (Confindustria Flash Economic Outlook, April 2026).
The EU27 countries remain the main market for mechanical engineering, as highlighted by analyses by the Statistics Office of Anima Confindustria: +2.4% and over €17 billion. Germany remains Europe's leading trading partner, with €3.7 billion and essentially stable (+0.2%) through 2024. France declined by 0.8%, while Spain recorded the greatest growth (+11.2%). Poland (€1.16 billion and +4.3%) climbs to seventh place in the Italian export rankings, surpassing China (-14.1%).
Considering Asia and the Middle East , exports are concentrated in a few high-value countries and strategic categories. Saudi Arabia rises to the top destination market, with €1.4 billion in exports and a 4.3% increase compared to 2024. China falls to €1.13 billion, and Singapore collapses (-46.5%), while the greatest growth in 2025 is concentrated in the United Arab Emirates (+27.1%) and Qatar (+18.1%).
Elsewhere in the world, Algeria (+70.6%) and Australia (+10.8%) saw significant growth, joining the top 20 destinations for Italian mechanical engineering. South America also remains a key region. Further strengthening Anima's strategic positioning in South America are: the launch of the EU-Mercosur agreement on May 1st, strongly supported by the government and intended to consolidate one of the largest integrated trade areas globally, with the progressive elimination of tariffs on 91% of products; the Confindustria mission to Argentina and Brazil from September 7th to 11th on industry and energy; Anima's joint participation in the "ROG.e Energy" trade fair; and the Memorandum of Understanding with Adimra (the Association of Metallurgical Industrialists of the Argentine Republic) signed in June 2025.
Finally, turning to imports , Germany remains the leading country of origin with 3.99 billion euros (+9.4%), followed by China and the United States . In terms of geographical areas, the EU27 absorbs the predominant share (56.4% of the total), while East Asia emerges as the second largest supply hub (Processing by the Anima Statistics & Market Intelligence Office based on Istat data).
" The mechanical engineering industry today finds itself in a very critical and uncertain phase , in which export growth is insufficient to offset the structural issues related to energy costs and the lack of a real industrial policy," concludes President Almici. "In a scenario that remains completely unpredictable , a reduction in energy costs is essential, and it is a priority for European institutions to put manufacturing back at the center , to prevent the current tensions from leading us toward a deeper industrial crisis."
ANIMA Confindustria is the trade organization within Confindustria that represents companies in the mechanical and related sectors, a sector that employs 224,006 people, generates a turnover of €59.1 billion, and accounts for approximately 60% of exports (2025 forecast by the Anima Research Office). The major sectors represented by ANIMA are: construction and infrastructure; material handling and logistics; food production; energy production; industrial production; and safety and environment.
Ucimu: orders index in the third quarter of 2026 rise (+10.5%) foreign orders (+24.7%); domestic ord
In the third quarter of 2026, the machine tool orders index compiled by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre recorded a 10.5% increase compared to the July-September 2025 period . In absolute value, the index stood at 58.9 (base 100 in 2021). In particular, orders collected across borders grew by +24.7% compared to the third quarter of 2025, for an absolute value of 108.6. Order intake in Italy, however, decreased by 7.1% compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 14.3. Riccardo Rosa , President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated: " Domestic demand remains weak despite the numerous ongoing negotiations. The uncertainty of the international context and the increase in energy costs are clearly impacting the activity of Italian manufacturing operators, who are postponing investments pending greater clarity. We are therefore confident ," added President Riccardo Rosa , " that Italian demand will be able to regain momentum, also supported by the hyper-depreciation measure which, in version 5.0, allows for better planning of investments, which can be spread out until September 2028. " Italian manufacturers' activity on foreign markets, however, has been decidedly dynamic. In addition to the United States, where demand remains particularly strong, Germany is also beginning to show signs of recovery: certainly good news for the Italian industry in the sector. According to data processed by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre, in the first half of 2026 (latest available data), the main outlet markets for Italian supply in the sector were the United States (329 million euros +12.6%) and Germany (137 million euros, +7.6%), followed by France, Poland, and Spain. “In particular, the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as the energy sector, are driving orders, regardless of the country of reference,” concluded Riccardo Rosa . These are the latest sector data presented by the president of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, Riccardo Rosa , on the occasion of the inauguration of 35.BI-MU, the international sector event taking place at fieramilano Rho from 12 to 16 October . Speakers at the meeting chaired by Rosa included Valentino Valentini , Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy; Giovanni Bozzetti, President of Fondazione Fiera Milano; Simona Greco , Hosted Exhibitions Director of Fiera Milano; and Luca Durante , Head of the Capital Goods Office at ICE-Agenzia. The second part of the event featured an interview with Gian Piero Cutillo, Co-General Manager of Leonardo, and Roberto Vavassori , Executive Director of Brembo and President of ANFIA, conducted by Paolo Bricco, Special Correspondent, Il Sole 24 Ore. The event features over 400 companies , spread across a total area of 40,000 square meters in pavilions 22 and 24. The spotlight will be on machine tools, robotics, automation, additive manufacturing, digital manufacturing, artificial intelligence, measurement and quality control systems, components, and enabling technologies for the smart factory. The event, promoted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE and organized by EFIM-ENTE FIERE ITALIANE MACCHINE, significantly enhances the thematic cultural dimension. Over 50 events are planned , including conferences, workshops, and round tables. New features this year include two special forums dedicated to the Aerospace & Defense and Energy sectors, strategic sectors that will be analyzed through the direct testimony of production and operations directors of some of the main international players and the CEOs of several Italian SMEs. In terms of training, the VLF4EU (Virtual Learning Factory for EU) International Conference is particularly relevant, focusing on an innovative training system based on the Digital Twin of the factory. The conference will feature around thirty researchers from Denmark, France, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Italy. The relationship between young people and the world of work will be explored in depth at the meeting " Value, Future, Impact. Work According to the New Generation ," organized by ANIPLA with the patronage of the UCIMU Foundation. These conferences are part of the Skills Area 's calendar of meetings. Located in Pavilion 24, the Skills Area will host initiatives promoted by UCIMU Academy and the UCIMU Foundation . Among these, ROBOTGAMES , the automation and robotics competition for secondary school students, now in its second edition, will once again be held.
Industriale.it certification