The production of large appliances it fell in 2022 compared to 2021 by 18%, exports by 10%, sales by 6%, but all in all, comparing these data with the numbers of the years prior to Covid, it didn't go so badly. On the contrary. The final balance communicated to Milan by Paul Lloyd, president of Applia Italia-Confindustria and, for retail, da Roberto Fogliata, sales director of GFK Italia, talk about a reality that brings together various sectors of manufacturing and services: after a 2021 outstanding with double-digit growth in quantity and value, it was impossible to go any further. And in fact, despite increases in energy bills, raw materials, logistics and traditional and smart components, the final results for 2022, thanks above all to a positive first half and despite a fall in the last six months of the year, exceeded those of 2019. Obviously the production trends are worrying unknowns and in any case they have already created layoffs, slowdowns in orders and deliveries which unfortunately - as always happens - are paid by employees in constant decline for years.
Another comparison appears worrying: if production has fallen by 18% but consumer purchases "only" by 6% it means that more and more space and sales are taking up shelves equipment manufactured overseas, often favored by social, economic and technological dumping. And in fact, the data communicated by Lloy show that the Italian manufacture of White is increasingly specializing – however reducing itself – on the high-end, with super-efficient, design and high-performance appliances.
How the Italian household appliance industry fared in 2022
Sales of washing machines of efficient energy class have, moreover, recorded an increase in value, while in volume the minus sign prevails; purchases of built-in cooking, the most expensive and performing, saw a +6,5% in value, with a +27,4% for induction hobs with integrated suction (Elica docet, a resounding international success). The sales of refrigerators they did well in value (+7,1%) less in volume (-2,1). The increase in energy costs has penalized the sales of dryers conspicuously with a -32% in value. However, for the small appliance there are positive signs that follow the trend of Majaps: +3,4 in value and only +0,4 in quantity with a drop invacuum cleaner for non-delivery of components, raw materials and finished products. Sales are growing fully automatic espresso machines not made in China in value but dropping in numbers.
The bad habits of Italians: dated and energy-intensive appliances
Ultimately there is a shift in Italy and in Europe towards high-performance products which, however, are still unable to free a large slice of the market from entry level products, often bad quality e high defectiveness (pending the obligation of repairability). And above all to get rid of the bad habits of the Italian population, that of keeping at home the oldest and most run-down household appliances in Europe which consumes enormous quantities of electric energy, so much so that it constitutes almost 60% of total household consumption, as Lloy underlined.
Italian industry and retail are waiting for eco-bonuses
And yet, changing an old gasping and energy-intensive 10-year-old appliance is possible save significant figures every year: over 100 euros for the fridge, 200 for the dishwasher and 100 for the washing machine. If you then replace the iron or the water heater (much more wasteful than a washing machine) the savings can reach thousand eurosor. Italian industry and retail – according to what the top management declared – expect a measure from the government capable of promoting the replacement of this gigantic mass of obsolete and energy-intensive appliances. Given that the eco-bonuses have given the appliance sector for the heating biomass (+20%), for i fireplaces and flues (+13%) and in general for those involved in construction, an extraordinary dynamism. Remarkable growth, thanks to the constant increase in tourism, also for the sales of professional equipment of hospitality, flagship of Made in Italy, which scored an excellent +20%.
