What is in store for the construction machinery sector in Italy this year?

The report predicts a downward trend in certain segments of the sector, which may result in a slowdown in the construction cycle throughout the year. However, the sector is expected to remain robust overall. These findings were presented during SaMoTer Day at Veronafiere, Italy in preparation for the 32nd edition of the international construction machinery exhibition, which is scheduled to take place from May 6-9, 2026.

Panel conducted for SaMoTer Day at Veronafiere, Italy in preparation for the 32nd edition of the international construction machinery exhibition (Photo: SaMoTer)

“SaMoTer is the only Italian event covering site and construction machinery. 2026 will see several important innovations,” announced Raul Barbieri, Sales Director at Veronafiere, “following the consolidated guidelines that combine business, innovation, internationality and training. The 32nd edition of SaMoTer will present a full-scale Academy with the aim of providing high quality technical training and creating an initial educational path for people keen to develop new skills.

“Innovation at SaMoTer will also take in logisitics, thanks to specific focus meetings in the road transport sector, which will now have a dedicated exhibition area.”

SaMoTer Lab also returns as the venue for collaboration between institutions and companies in the name of innovation, as well as the Digital Construction Site, where 4.0 machines and digital control technologies can be seen at work.

In macroeconomic terms, 2024 will see partly contrasting global trends, as described by Stefano Fantacone, Scientific Director of Cer.

“Growth prospects for the global economy are expected to improve in the two-year period 2024-25, albeit remaining weak and subject to international tensions that generate uncertainty, from the war in Ukraine to the situation in the Red Sea, the economic competition between China and India in Asia and the slowdown in Germany,” commented Fantacone.

At the same time, it is said that GDP in Italy is expected to grow by 0.9% in 2024. Although rather limited, this is still higher than the average pre-Covid figure. The overall feeling as regards confidence among construction companies, despite falling compared to 2023 (from 105.9% to 105%), remains high thanks to the prospects available through Superbonus and PNRR (the national resilience and restart programme), which over the next two-year period (2025-26) is expected to post a very marked acceleration which will help relaunch the sector.

While 2023 was a year of slight decline for construction machinery compared to the previous year (-3.1%, although this figure may well be revised overall from a less negative perspective), it was still 47% higher compared to the volumes five years earlier, equal to 9,000 more machines says the report.

The results for road machinery (+31.9%) and concrete machinery (+8.3%) were very positive in 2023. Sales also increased for telehandlers, which posted growth of 1.8%. The earthmoving machinery segment (-5.3%) saw a fine performances for bulldozers (+53%), compact mini loaders (+15.6%) and dumpers (+10%), while backhoe loaders (-20.9%), wheel loaders (-12.2%) and tracked excavators (-9%) posted significant downturns.

“2024 will be a year of further consolidation,” Fantacone explained, “with a slowdown in sales compared to the peak in 2022, but still well above the 2021 result. The CER forecast places the equilibrium sales dimension at between 27,500 and 28,000 units.”