Verona, 24 March 2026: Italy’s construction machinery sector exported €3.23 billion worth of equipment in 2025 — virtually unchanged from the year before, a result that industry leaders are framing not as stagnation, but survival.
In a year defined by trade tensions, geopolitical volatility, and softening global demand, the marginal 0.5% dip is being read as proof of structural resilience.
The figures, drawn from the third International Trade Report compiled by Unacea — Italy’s construction machinery union — and the European Research Centre (CER), reveal a sector in which the gains and losses are sharply uneven across product lines.
Earthmoving Leads; Drilling and Concrete Drag
The standout performer was earthmoving machinery, which climbed 7.1% to reach €1.55 billion in export value — the single largest segment in the sector and the clearest indicator of where global infrastructure spending is flowing.
Tower cranes added 3.2% to hit €158.1 million, while road-building machinery edged up 3.6% to €101.8 million.
The picture darkened elsewhere. Drilling machinery fell 9.4% to €485.6 million. Concrete machinery was down 9.8% to €296.9 million.
Aggregate preparation machinery shed 6.7%, settling at €633.3 million. The sector’s overall trade balance contracted by 14.1% to €911 million — a figure that underscores the pressure even as headline exports hold.
Construction Equipment Exports by Segment
| Product Segment | Export Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Earthmoving Machinery | €1.55 billion | +7.1% |
| Aggregate Preparation | €633.3 million | −6.7% |
| Drilling Machinery | €485.6 million | −9.4% |
| Concrete Machinery | €296.9 million | −9.8% |
| Tower Cranes | €158.1 million | +3.2% |
| Road-Building Machinery | €101.8 million | +3.6% |
Source: Unacea / CER International Trade Report 2026
Where the Growth Is Coming From
The geographic spread of growth tells its own story. Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the United States, Brazil, North Africa, and sub-Saharan African markets all recorded export increases in 2025.
These are regions where infrastructure build-out remains a political and economic priority — and where Italian manufacturers have strategically positioned themselves.
The pattern reflects a broader shift: as mature European markets slow, the growth frontier for Italian OEMs is increasingly in the developing world.
Africa and the Middle East, in particular, are emerging as strategic battlegrounds — territories where European and Asian machinery manufacturers are competing for long-term market share.
An Industry That Punches Above Its Weight
Often overlooked in the broader industrial narrative, Italian construction machinery is quietly significant.
The sector accounts for roughly 0.3% of Italy’s GDP, moves more than 21,000 machines through the domestic market annually, and supports approximately 85,000 jobs across primary manufacturers and allied industries.
For Unacea Director Luca Nutarelli, the 2025 numbers validate a long-term thesis. The sector’s stability is not accidental — it reflects deliberate investment in technological differentiation, sustainability credentials, and market diversification.
“Despite geopolitical uncertainties and fluctuating international demand,” he noted, “the sector continues to be a strategic driver for the Italian economy.”
What Comes Next: SaMoTer 2026 and the Transformation Agenda
The next major test for the sector comes at the 32nd SaMoTer International Construction Machinery Exhibition in Verona, running 6–9 May 2026.
With more than 500 exhibitors across 50,000 square metres of show floor, SaMoTer is the primary stage where the industry’s transformation agenda — electrification, autonomy, digitization — gets translated into hardware and commercial deals.
The broader prognosis for Italian construction equipment hinges on two macro forces: the pace of European infrastructure investment — particularly under public development and economic recovery programmes — and how quickly the industry can execute on its decarbonization commitments.
With construction site digitization accelerating and emissions regulations tightening, manufacturers that move fast on both fronts will be best positioned to absorb whatever demand the volatile global environment delivers next.
The Unacea International Trade Report 2026 was produced in collaboration with the European Research Centre (CER).
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