The first quarter of 2024 ended at the same values as 2023 for the production of Piacenza manufacturing; aabsolute stability on volumes which, in any case, contrasts with the sharp decline recorded in Emilia-Romagna, where production fell by 3.7%. In this context of replication of the 2023 provincial volumes, however, it stands out the increase in turnoverwhich grew overall by 3.0% (at a regional level, on the contrary, there was a decline of 3.5%), and by 2.8% on foreign markets (-1.1% for the regional figure).
These trends are highlighted by the analyzes of the Research and Statistics office of the Emilia Chamber of Commerce on the results of the economic survey of the chamber system on small and medium-sized enterprises, which however highlight critical issues on total orders; the data show, in fact, a drop of 1.3% (the regional figure is down by 2.1%), given that however it worsens on foreign markets (-7.9%), compared to growth, albeit moderate , by 0.1% regionally.
The level of plant utilization is 82.3% (almost eight points above the regional average) and 21.6 weeks of production are ensured by the consistency of the order portfolio at the end of the quarter, against a regional average of 11 ,8.
FOCUS CRAFTSMANSHIP – For manufacturing crafts, in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of the previous year – continues the Chamber of Commerce report – there was a slowdown in production of 2.8% (better than the regional -4.8%), with a simultaneous slowdown in overall orders by 2.1% (the regional figure is -4.7%) and in foreign orders by 6.9% (compared to the regional decline of 5.0%). Turnover fell by 1.6% overall (against a regional -4.9%) and by 8.5% on foreign markets (the regional figure was -5.2%). Finally, the degree of use of the plants, with 70.3%, appears lower than the overall figure for the industry in Piacenza (82.3%), although it is slightly higher than the regional average of 69.6%. The weeks of production ensured by the consistency of the order portfolio at the end of the quarter are 7.2, practically in line with the regional average.
