Italy’s packaging and processing machinery industry recorded further growth in 2025, with revenue rising 4 per cent year on year to €10.46 billion ($11.97bn), according to new figures released by the Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (Ucima).
The trade association said exports remained the sector’s biggest source of revenue, while the domestic market also recorded strong growth. The figures were presented at Ucima’s annual general meeting and are based on its 14th National Statistical Survey, which covered 629 companies employing 40,611 people.
Exports increased by 2.5 per cent to €8.19 billion ($9.37bn), accounting for 78.3 per cent of total industry revenue. On average, companies exported 85.4 per cent of their production.
The EU remained the largest export market, generating €2.4bn ($2.75bn) and representing 36.8 per cent of total exports. Asia was the second largest destination with €1.09bn ($1.25bn), followed by North America with €1.03bn ($1.18bn).
Non-EU Europe, South America, and Africa and Oceania also remained significant export markets.
Food and pharmaceutical
The domestic market grew by 9.9 per cent to €2.27bn ($2.60bn), representing 21.7 per cent of total industry revenue. Ucima said demand in Italy was driven mainly by the food and pharmaceutical sectors, both of which recorded growth of more than 15 per cent.
Food and beverage remained the largest end-use sectors for Italian packaging machinery, accounting for 55.4 per cent of total sales. The food sector generated €3.26bn ($3.73bn), while beverage applications contributed €2.54bn ($2.91bn).
The tissue, tobacco and other industries segment generated €2.05bn ($2.35bn), while the pharmaceutical sector reached €1.84bn ($2.11bn), representing 17.6 per cent of total revenue.
By machinery type, primary packaging equipment remained the largest category, accounting for 52.5 per cent of industry revenue. Form-fill-seal machines generated €2.28bn ($2.61bn), equal to 21.8 per cent of total revenue. Filling and dosing machines followed with €1.88bn ($2.15bn), while palletising systems and cartoning and case-packing machines recorded growth of 8.1 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively.
Regional dominance
Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region continued to dominate the sector. Home to 214 companies, it accounted for 34 per cent of manufacturers, generated more than €6.4bn ($7.32bn) in revenue, or 61.2 per cent of the national total, and employed more than 22,380 people. Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont were the next largest regional centres.
Employment across the industry increased by 0.3 per cent to 40,611 people during 2025, with Ucima noting the sector has created more than 13,000 jobs over the past decade.
Maurizio Bertocco, who recently succeeded Riccardo Cavanna as the president of Ucima, said: “The packaging technology industry once again demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth in 2025.
“Achieving revenue of nearly €10.5bn [$12bn] in an international environment shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and new trade barriers confirms the strength of both our industry and the supply chain that supports it.”
He added that geopolitical developments, changing international trade conditions, industrial policy and technological transformation would continue to influence the sector’s future growth and competitiveness.
