Trends in glass production market in Italy and Europe

The glass industry has experienced a year of consolidation and moderate growth both in Italy and in Europe, marking an important post-pandemic recovery phase. According to an analysis of recent data, the total turnover of the Glass Processing Technology Sector exceeded 3 billion euros for the first time, an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.

Different sectors, one sign: plus

The glass sector has seen variable trends among its main sectors. Going into the different segments, we can see how flat glass is the one with the highest growth, equal to +6.5%, reflecting a robust demand in the building and renovation sector.

Hollow glass, mainly used in the food and pharmaceutical industry, saw an increase of 2.1%, while the accessories segment remained substantially stable with a +0.2%.

Exports remained a crucial component of the industry’s turnover, accounting for about two thirds of the total. However, export growth was modest, up 0.4% from 2022. Despite the global economic challenges and the various negative events that are taking place, the glass sector remains broadly stable.

National market performance: great vivacity in the glass sector!

With an increase of 5.8% in 2023, we can say that Italian manufacturers of glass processing machines are benefiting from a positive dynamic: this trend highlights the competitiveness of Italian glass processing technologies on the domestic market. In the glass sector, therefore, the quality of Made in Italy still manages to fight with the international giants.

In particular, flat glass technologies recorded 18.8% growth in the domestic market, with an increase in domestic deliveries of 17.7% and imports of 33.4%. The accessories market also saw a growth of 3.8%, with an increase in imports of 4.5% and domestic deliveries of 3.1%.

The glass industry continues to demonstrate a strong ability to compete internationally. In this situation, innovation plays a crucial role: significant investments have been made in the field of energy efficiency and sustainability, making glass processing technologies increasingly modern and environmentally friendly. In addition, traditional machines have been equipped with automation systems, augmented reality and robotics. This focus on innovation not only improves the quality of the final product, but also contributes to reducing operating costs and environmental impact.

Future prospects for the glass processing industry

Given the above data, the Italian glass industry is certainly solid and ready to grow and innovate. The resilience shown during the pandemic, the ability to adapt to new challenges and the courage to push towards experimentation and automation are positive indicators for the sector and for the companies that are part of it.

Thanks to its intrinsic qualities glass will continue to be the reference material in many sectors, so we expect that demand will not slow down. And we at Lattuada are ready to embrace the future of glass processing with enthusiasm and futuristic vision, remaining linked to our roots and combining focus on innovation with sustainable choices and experience gained.

Future, we are here!