Team action

Acimga, Aie, Anes, Argi, Asig, Assocarta, Assografici, Fieg: everyone was there at the presentation of the first economic study dedicated to “Paper, publishing, print and converting: sector analysis”, carried out by the Bocconi University and summarised by its curator Alessandro Nova. A segment hence, comprising the producers of machines for graphics and converting, from the producers of paper and cardboard, newspaper-, periodical- and book publishers and, last but not least, the companies of the print, paper&cardboard and converting sector, that seen as a single grouping constitute a sector of 42 billion Euro (aggregate turnover 2006), with around 257 thousand employed (but the supplier concerns account for a further 600 thousand units). The grouping also shows stable and progressive positive trade balance (2,604 million Euro in 2006), that grew from 1.4 to 2.6 billion Euro in the period 2000-2006, countering the general negative trend of Italian trade seen as a whole. Dynamics and trends - Beyond the results, what is also interesting is the type of growth shown by the paper industry during the five-year period under examination, analysed here considering both the run of turnover of the companies and the dynamics of the domestic market. First and foremost, in fact, we see that the positive trend is aboveall due to foreign trade: after a two-year period (2002-2003) in which both exports as well as domestic sales lost their impetus switching to a downtrend, in the period 2004-2005 exports were increasing again, engendering growth. Domestic sales also showed, albeit to a lesser extent, a positive trend, despite the fact that Italian national consumption has only shown limited growth. Taking a closer look at the phenomenon above, the study shows that after a 2001 where the albeit limited growth of the market favoured imports, in the two following yeas Italian demand dropped dramatically, though aboveall penalising foreign suppliers. In the following three-year period 2004- 2006 a recovery was witnessed, with a modest upswing, where both Italian as well as foreign producers drew benefit.
Shared projects -
In Alessandro Nova’s analysis, the two most important elements in the life of this sector, that make it an industry with extremely low risks, especially if analysed in the conditions of strong “turbulence” that featured in the period 2000-2006, are seen to be the continuity of growth, that in the longterm (1990-2006) was the highest of the Italian system, and the overall stability, second only to the food segment (“primary” by definition). Empowered by this information, the promoters of the study are now committed to reflecting on the same, which should lead to the devising of new joint undertakings. “The completion of this study - Acimga general secretary Guido Corbella states - is the first result of the intense commitment of a group of persons that share a macro objective: to highlight and valorise a key industrial segment of the Italian economy. Acimga has strongly believed in this project right from the outset, and has been actively involved in the same stimulating and coordinating the relative actions. But the real work starts now. At the sector consultation table we in fact intend propagating joint undertakings and projects, without for this underrating the specific characteristics and demands for each sector. And, to start off, in common agreement we will continue to monitor the key economic indicators on a yearly basis”.