THEItaly is second in Europe in the sector rubber and plastic, only after Germany, in terms of number of local units and turnover and value added values. There Lombardia it is the region that contributes most to this position, accounting for approximately a third of the local units (3,7 thousand in 2020) and employees (60,7 thousand in 2020) of the Italian total. A weight that rises further if we consider the economic value generated, in 2021 as many as 22,3 billion euros in turnover (40% of the national figure) and 5,5 billion in added value (39%).
This is what emerges from the report "Industries that shape the future" produced by Assolombarda and from Plastic Rubber Federation.
The Lombard rubber and plastic sector
The analysis also shows that Lombardy is the European region with the highest number of local companies and ranks at fourth (after Rhineland-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg) in terms of the number of employees. Furthermore, compared to other European regions, Lombardy is the only one, together with the Rhineland, to record an increase in workers between 2012 and 2020, a sign of a sector still growing.
If we also consider the other sectors that make up the production chain (creation of mixtures starting from polymers, their transformation into finished products, up to the recycling of products at the end of their life), Lombardy has over 74.000 workers distributed in approx 4.400 local companies (which represent 33-34% of the Italian total), generating a turnover of 30,9 billion of euros and a added value of 7,4 billion of euros (which correspond to 43-44% of the Italian total).
A weight that can also be seen from the data relating to export. In 2022, 37% of Italian exports in the sector were from Lombardy, equal to 7,6 billion euros, representing not only the main Italian exporting region, but also the second at European level, behind only Rhineland-Westphalia (9,5 billion).
Furthermore, in the last decade, a strong growth trend has emerged, equal to +61% (2022 versus 2012), in Lombard exports of plastic rubber.
Comments
“The research data demonstrates how the rubber-plastic sector is today a driving sector of our economy. From the trends obtained from the survey activity, it emerges that Lombardy is the first region in Europe for the number of local units and the fourth for the number of employees. This evidence provides a correct narrative of our industry, demonstrating how precious a resource it is for the territories", commented the general director of Assolombarda, Alessandro Scarabelli.
“Of course: there remain shadows that do not leave us at all calm about the economic situation. It is undeniable, in fact, that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and large-scale geopolitical tensions continue to represent a factor of instability. In this scenario, the presentation of the report allows us to discuss the future of the sector with clear and timely evidence, making use of a virtuous collaboration between local and trade associations. A circumstance that demonstrates how complementary their respective missions are in the large Confindustria family,” she concluded.
Among these great challenges of the future there is above all that of sustainability which, he explains Marco Do, president of the Rubber Plastic Federation, must be addressed not from an ideological perspective but taking into account the value that rubber-plastic companies bring to the supply chain with their products, in terms of sustainability and quality.
