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.
100 % grape must suppliers for entire MARTINI portfolio certified sustainable
After decades spent pioneering sustainable practices, MARTINI, the world’s number one Italian sparkling wine and vermouth from family-owned Bacardi, has reached a sustainability milestone – 100 % of the wineries for the entire MARTINI portfolio are now certified sustainable.
Every drop of grape juice used in the production of MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, including MARTINI Fiero and the new MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo range, is now sourced from wineries certified according to the standard set by Equalitas, the most comprehensive sustainability standard in Italian wine making.
With the sugarcane for BACARDÍ® rum and the 10 botanicals for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® already 100 % sustainable sourced, this news is another major step towards Bacardi achieving its 2025 goal of sourcing 100 % of its key ingredients from sustainably certified suppliers.
Established 160 years ago next year, MARTINI has long pioneered doing the right thing for the environment. In 1987, L’Osservatorio MARTINI – the MARTINI Observatory – was established in Northern Italy as a center dedicated to promoting sustainable farming methods, first for its wines and, more recently, the many botanical ingredients used to craft its iconic vermouths and non-alcoholic aperitivo range.
About Equalitas
Equalitas is an Italian-born sustainability initiative promoted by Federdoc. Federdoc is the Italian Confederation of Voluntary Consortia for the Protection of the Designations of the Italian Wines. In 2015, Federdoc began several initiatives in the Italian wine value chain including the promotion of one main, certifiable, sustainability standard for companies in the wine sector. Equalitas is a so called “standard owner”, and it has issued the SOPD Equalitas standard, a set of good practice requirements and sustainability indicators. Through an audit made by third party Certification Bodies, wineries can certify against SOPD Equalitas.
