According to industrial associations Unioncamere and Confindustria Lombarda, in Q1 of the current year industry in the Lombardy region of northern Italy has confirmed the positive trend seen in previous quarters, although the recovery has slowed its pace.
Production levels showed a modest increase (up 0.5 percent) compared to 2.3 percent in the previous quarter, but orders received from Italian customers have decreased (down 2.9 percent quarter on quarter), while the orders from foreign customers have remained stable. The total industrial turnover in the region is still growing (up 1.3 percent quarter on quarter), but has also slowed down, while foreign sales proceeds remain at 36 percent of the total figure. In addition, prices have risen, with raw material prices increasing faster (up 5.4 percent quarter on quarter) compared to finished product prices (up 2.2 percent).
Almost every industrial sector showed increasing outputs in Q1. As for sales proceeds, all markets have grown, especially the steel market (up 20.8 percent), mechanical engineering (up 12.4 percent), textiles (up 11.2 percent) and chemistry (up 10.6 percent) - all compared to the previous quarter.