The European machine tool production records a modest growth, from 22.7 in 2013 to 22.8 billion euro in 2014, according to General Assembly of CECIMO that took place in Brussels on 4 December 2014. This moderate increase is explained by the slowing expansion of emerging markets and developed countries’ fragile recovery. However, by providing high-end, precise and productive machines, the sector maintains its share, 39%, in global production.
European machine tool exports in 2014 were influenced by global events, including China’s transition towards a more consumption based economy, the extreme weather conditions in the United States and the crisis in Crimea. In consequence, CECIMO’s exports show a small decline to 17.9 billion euro this year. Since the global economic growth forecasts are weak, so is the European machine tool exports’ growth potential.
During the last three years, CECIMO’s machine tool production growth was clearly export driven. This year, we are seeing an important shift as the main driver becomes the European machine tool consumption, which recorded an increase of 7% to reach 13.4 billion euro in 2014. However, Europe’s economic conditions have considerably cooled during the year, and the outlook for 2015 reflects this. The growing demand for machine tools has also increased CECIMO’s imports. In 2014, European machine tool imports rise 5% to 8.4 billion euro. Comparing the imports with the exports, the European machine tool industry creates highly positive trade balance, 9.5 billion euro in 2014.
The new orders intake had a positive start of the year, but now clearly shows a decline in machine tool demand in Europe. In the second quarter of 2014, CECIMO domestic orders index declined 7% compared to the previous quarter. “The business sentiment in Europe is fragile and we are cautious about further growth prospects of the European machine tool market,” explained Dr Frank Brinken, the Chairman of CECIMO Economic Committee and a member of the Board of Directors, Starrag Holding Group. “European machine tool sales to Russia have turned into steep decline in the light of the imposed EU sanctions. A prolonged standstill in trade can harm irreversibly the long term relationships between European suppliers and customers in Russia, the third biggest market for European machine tools shipped outside Europe. Russian customers however continue procuring machine tools now from CECIMO competitors in Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Brazil who are not affected by the EU sanctions.”
