After the success of the 2021 edition, EIMA International is now back on track for the 2022 edition, scheduled in Bologna from November 9 to 13. This year’s edition, the 45th in the history of the international exhibition of agricultural machinery, returns the exhibition to its usual schedule, in November of even-numbered years, marking the restoration of the biennial rhythm that will continue with the 2024 edition. Expectations are high for this event, which was presented at Fieragricola in Verona by FederUnacoma, the association of agricultural machinery manufacturers, the direct organiser of this exhibition that ranks among the world’s top events in terms of number of exhibitors, number of visitors, level of internationality and quality of technologies on show. To date, 835 manufacturers have already formally applied to take part in the event (585 Italian and 250 foreign), with a demand for space that has already reached 80,000 square metres.
“This is a brilliant start,” – explained Simona Rapastella, Director General of FederUnacoma, at the conference – “which leads us to expect a final number of exhibitors and a committed surface area in line with the results recorded in the pre-pandemic EIMA editions.”
“Never like in recent years, conditioned by the health situation and the limitations imposed on public events has the trade fair sector questioned itself on its own future and on the possibility that exhibitors and visitors may have developed new needs and new expectations, and for this reason we have subjected EIMA to capillary monitoring, trying to highlight its strengths and possible critical points,” Rapastella said.
FederUnacoma’s monitoring data, combined with those of specialised companies such as GRS or official bodies such as UFI (International Exhibition Union), confirm a trend towards a reduction in trade fair participation to the benefit of a few events that have a strong international character and act as catalysts for the sector. Field surveys also show a growing expectation for the level of services, especially for operators who see the trade fair as a specific place for business relations. “These are elements that are already peculiar to EIMA International,” noted Rapastella, “which we have tried to strengthen with the confirmation of the extensive ‘business-to-business’ programme for foreign delegations organised in collaboration with ICE, with the incoming programme called ‘Special Guest’ which provides facilities and benefits for foreign business operators, and with a special initiative involving the diplomatic network”.
Tractors: World market at a record pace
After posting strong growth in 2020, the tractor market will see further increases in all major countries in 2021. There are over 900,000 new registrations in India, 318,000 in the USA, and 180,000 in Europe. Italian exports grew by 20%, and national production is estimated at 13.7 billion Euros. The forecasts for 2022 formulated at the beginning of the year are positive, but the Russian-Ukrainian military crisis is changing the scenario, and threatens to heavily influence the global economy.
The global agricultural machinery market continues its positive phase. Tractor sales – which in 2020, at the height of the pandemic crisis, had already recorded a global increase of 7.7% to 2,200,000 units – recorded further increases in 2021 in all the main countries.
The United States closed the year – according to data published by the national manufacturers’ association AEM – with a total of 318,000 tractors registered, up more than 10% compared to 288,000 the previous year, while the Indian market consolidated its supremacy in terms of units sold by exceeding 900,000, an increase of 13%. High levels should have been reached by the Chinese market, for which the final 2021 figures are not yet available but which already recorded a record increase in 2020 (+47% against 470,000 units sold). The European market is also in the black, with an average increase of 16.6%, according to data released by the European Manufacturers’ Committee CEMA, with almost 180 thousand units registered compared to 154 thousand the previous year. France and Germany remained the largest markets in the European landscape, with 36 thousand and 35 thousand units respectively, with increases of 9.2% and 8.8%. Spain accounted for 11,700 units (+9.3%), the United Kingdom for 14,000 (+18%), while Poland stood out, recording an increase of almost 43%, with 20,200 machines registered, driven by the financing of the agricultural development plans operating in the country. Among the emerging markets, Turkey, recovering after the economic crisis of the last few years, registered 64 thousand units, up 33% compared to the previous year. Italy closed the year with an increase in tractors well above the European average of 36.6% or 24,400 units.
Agricultural machinery: high demand, production at risk
During 2022, the Italian agricultural machinery market should maintain good levels, also due to the presence of incentives and financing. On the industrial front, however, the cost of raw materials and energy is likely to curb production and substantially increase machinery prices.
Demand for agricultural machinery in Italy is expected to remain high in 2022, but the cost of industrial materials is threatening the production capacity of manufacturers. The scenario was described this afternoon in Verona, at the press conference of FederUnacoma, the association of manufacturers belonging to Confindustria.
“The agricultural machinery and equipment market can take advantage of multiple and cumulative public incentives,” said FederUnacoma president Alessandro Malavolti at the conference “and this should encourage investment by leading companies. In the same year, tax credits for 4.0, funding for RDPs, the Sabatini Law, the ISI-Inail call for tenders and the NRRP will be available. The 4.0 will be financed for 2022 according to the same parameters as last year,” explained Malavolti.
Green machinery: 14% market growth in 2021
All the main product types closed with a profit. Significant increases were recorded for trimmers (+21.6%), chainsaws (+15.1%) and lawn mowers (+12.9%). Sprayers, which are also used for sanitisation during the most critical moments of the pandemic emergency, went against the trend, down 33.8%. A total of 1,660,148 units were sold in 2021, including self-propelled machines, powered equipment and hand tools.
Despite a slight downturn in the last three months of the year (-4.9%), the market for gardening and landscaping machinery and equipment ended 2021 with a significant increase in sales compared to the previous year.
Figures compiled by the Italian association of Comagarden manufacturers (FederUnacoma) and the Morgan statistics group indicate a total of 1,660,148 units sold by the end of the year (from self-propelled machines to powered equipment and hand tools). In percentage terms, this sales volume marks an increase of no less than 14 percentage points over 2020. All the main types of products surveyed by the Morgan Group are showing a positive trend, starting with trimmers, which are up 21.6%, with over 105,000 units sold. Double-digit increases were also recorded for chainsaws (+15.1% to 430 thousand units) and lawn mowers (+12.9% to approximately 325 thousand units), while smaller increases were recorded for brushcutters (+6.1% to 304 thousand units).