Italian woodworking machinery exports to the Middle East top EUR49m in 2007

With a clear directive towards gaining a larger market share in the Middle East market, the Italian Woodworking Machinery and Tool Manufacturers' Association (ACIMALL), together with the Italian Trade Commission, has successfully hosted the first Italian Pavilion at the Dubai Woodshow 2008 at the Dubai Airport Expo.

According to ACIMALL estimates, the Italian WwM industry was projected to grow by 7% in 2007, aaccounting for approximately $2bn in global exports. The Italian WwMs have established a stable market in the Middle East, where a 20% growth in exports was recorded from January to October 2007. The UAE is currently fuelling the massive demand in the region, and has increased its Italian WwM imports by 11.6% to cross the EUR20m mark in the first ten months of 2007. In addition to the UAE and the rest of the GCC states, North American countries have also served as mature markets for Italian WwMs, absorbing 12% of Italian-made machineries with an approximate value of EUR155m in 2006.

Martino Castellani, Italian Government official, said, "The improvement of technology is supporting the automation of processes, from conveyors to material unloading, up to machining on more and more complex working centres, thereby prompting a new rise of manufacturing activity in mature markets such as the US, Spain and the UAE. As labour becomes less and less relevant in the woodworking industry, we have identified the vast opportunity to showcase our modern technology and products to a widespread regional and international audience at Dubai Woodshow 2008. The launch of the first Italian Pavilion through the support of companies, who are marking their second participation at the event, stands as a testament to our intense desire to further imbue our presence within the regional and global market."

As the region's largest wood and wood machinery exhibition, Dubai Woodshow 2008 has attracted a large number of companies looking to showcase their products and services varying from plywood, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), veneer, laminates, parquet, and paper and treatment products to wood and woodworking machinery. Maintaining an esteemed repute among a distinct group of established construction professionals, interior designers, architects, engineers, timber merchants, furniture and building material manufacturers, carpenters, wholesale dealers and retailers, the 2007 edition of the event facilitated more than $50m worth of closed deals within its two-day run.

"We are extremely pleased to see some familiar faces from Italy who were with us in last year's event, and we extend our deep appreciation for their growing support for Dubai Woodshow as evident with the launch of the Italian Pavilion this year. It brings us tremendous pride to have played a part in the continuous growth of the Italian woodworking industry by providing its highly innovative products with a perfect platform to attract the attention of the global customers. We wish the Italian delegation all the best with regard to their presence in this year's show,"

concluded Saif Hashmath, Exhibition Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions.

ACIMALL is an organisation comprised of 220 leading manufacturers representing 90% of the Italian woodworking machinery industry in terms of employees and turnover. Playing an important role in the growth of the Italian woodworking machinery industry, ACIMALL is focused on finding effective technologies and innovations to fuel the advancement and overall evolution of its members. As a result, Italian machinery exports presently account for approximately 25% of the total Wwm exports in the world.