Italian packaging machinery: revenue up, orders down in the first quarter of 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, the Italian packaging and processing machinery sector reported a 2.0 % increase in turnover compared to the same period in 2025, driven mainly by the domestic market, while foreign demand remains weak. This is according to UCIMA’s quarterly economic survey referring to March and the first three months of the year.

Between January and March, overall turnover growth was the result of a 15.2 % increase in domestic sales, offsetting a slight decline in exports, which recorded a -0.2 % decrease.

Order intake shows the opposite trend and is beginning to raise concerns among Italian packaging machinery manufacturers. In the first quarter of 2026, overall orders declined by 5.8 %, mainly due to a contraction in foreign demand (-6.8 %), while domestic orders increased (+3.9 %).

The level of production already secured remains within normal ranges, stable at 7.7 months, in line with the previous quarter.

However, a closer look at March highlights a more critical trend in terms of orders. Total order intake fell by 9.3 % compared to March 2025, with contrasting dynamics across markets: positive performance on the domestic market (+18.2 %) and a decline in foreign markets (-12.6 %).

From a sectoral perspective, the best results in March were recorded in the Food, Pharmaceutical and Chemical segments, while Beverage, Cosmetics and other industrial sectors showed weaker dynamics.

Despite the slowdown in foreign orders observed in the first months of the year, the sector continues to demonstrate solid resilience. Operators’ expectations for the second quarter of 2026 point to an overall stable scenario, with signs of growth anticipated both in the domestic and international markets.