Data from the Italian construction equipment manufacturer's association (2539 Unacea) shows that the country's off-highway equipment market was still in recession in the first part of 2011. Sales of earthmoving machines stood at 5,139 units, a drop of 33% compared to the same period in 2010. Similar negative trends were noted for road machines with a drop of 50% and concrete batching machinery with a drop of 17%. "It is the whole Italian market of construction machines that is going through a serious crisis," commented Enrico Santini, 2539 Unacea president. "Although exports partially compensate for the sales drop in the interior market, our firms cannot survive the current situation of political instability, delay of payments on the part of the public administration, stoppage of the building yards, and overall lack of an industrial policy regarding our sector." Other senior figures within 2539 Unacea from various firms including 1595 CNH, the 2318 IMER Group, 262 Komatsu Europe and 2595 Simem echoed Santini's concerns over equipment sales in Italy and the need for a clear policy to boost the construction sector. Federico Furlani, 2595 Simem CEO added that instability in parts of North Africa and the Middle East have also affected sales to markets that would otherwise be key export areas for Italian firms.
