Spanish manufacturing and machine-tool sector sees 18.66% increase

The Spanish manufacturing and machine-tool sector saw an 18.66% increase in its 2021 turnover, estimated to be around €1,571.20 million. This increase has helped the sector partly recover from some of the losses made during the pandemic. The cutting machines turnover was €682 million, a 21.91% increase. On the other hand, the metal forming machines turnover (€296 million) reduce by 4.86%. There was a significant improvement in all the other sub-sectors, including 27.24 increases in components, 20.66% in tools, and 49.41% in services. 

There was a significant recovery in exports, which saw a 23.41% year-over-year increase with €1,241.47 million invoiced to foreign buyers. Some of the top export destinations included the UK, USA, Italy, Germany, China, France, India, Turkey, Portugal, and Mexico. Other stats include a 17.65% decrease in metal to €194.10 million and a 33.08% increase in metal cutting to €637.43 million.

Orders made in 2021

There was a 30% increase in orders for Spanish machine tools in 2021 compared to 2019 and over 69.2% compared to 2020. The metal cutting orders increased by +40.81% compared to 2019 and +70.98 compared to 2020. The milling sector also had a record-breaking increase in orders; +88.7% higher in 2019 and 82.05% higher in 2020. Finally, metal forming orders increased by 7.37% in 2019 (+64.43% in 2020).

2022 Expectations

The Russia – Ukraine conflict may not have a significant direct impact on the sector since only 1 to 3% of their exports went to Russia. The sector has also got strong order portfolios at the start of the year and the continued positive level of incoming orders in the first quarter.

However, the indirect consequence like the ongoing hike in energy costs could affect the sector’s production costs and supply chain. Another crucial factor could be China’s pandemic situation which could affect the manufacturing of several components required by the industry. But overall, the sector expects an increase in the year-over-year performance in 2022.

The BIEMH trade fair is back.

In other news, Spain’s largest industrial trade fair, BIEMH, is set to happen from June 13-17 after a 4-year break. This event will feature all the machine-tool industry’s and related technologies’ innovations from the last four years. Some of the innovations we are likely to see at this trade fair include additive manufacturing and 3D printing (via the ADDIT3D fair) and digitalization (through the BeDigital fair).