Italian construction machinery market grows by 3% ahead of SaMoTer 2026 despite exports falling by 8.8%
19.09.2025
Figure: SaMoTer
The construction machinery sector began the year on a positive note: 9,946 site vehicles were sold on the Italian market between January and June, closing the first half of 2025 with a +3% result compared to the same period in 2024. More specifically, sales involved 9,471 construction machines (+2%) and 475 road machines (+10%).
This data was analysed by Unacea (the Italian Construction Machinery Union), the institutional and strategic partner of the upcoming edition of SaMoTer – the triennial International Construction Machinery Exhibition, scheduled at Veronafiere from 6 to 9 May 2026.
Decline in international trade
According to the latest Unacea-Cer report, international trade in the sector continues to decline. Between January and May 2025, Italian construction machinery exports amounted to €1.293 billion, marking an 8.8% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
Exports rose most significantly between January and April to India, the Middle East and Africa. By contrast, the weakest results between January and May were recorded for concrete machinery (-22%), drilling machinery (-12.1%), aggregate preparation machinery (-11.8%) and road construction machinery (-8%). A slight downturn was also seen in the tower crane sector (-4.4%) as well as in earthmoving machinery and equipment (-4.2%).
Imports stood at €828 million, down by 2.9% year-on-year. Despite a 17.6% setback compared to 2024, the trade balance remains positive at €464 million. Supported by government incentives, the Italian market still ranks among the most important in Europe in terms of both volume and fleets.
SaMoTer 2026 as an industry landmark
Against this background, SaMoTer 2026 presents itself as a landmark international event for the entire supply chain: from earthmoving to lifting and hoisting, demolition, drilling and crushing, from quarry to construction site vehicles, from concrete to the road sector, as well as equipment, engine components and spare parts, logistics, services and ICT.
Organised by Veronafiere, the exhibition is part of the cycle of international partner shows under the CECE banner (the European Federation bringing together associations of construction machinery manufacturers). It will spotlight the Industry 4.0 revolution currently transforming the construction and machinery sector by focusing on strategic topics such as ecological transition and machine sustainability, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, construction site automation, and new solutions for road infrastructures, alongside key issues such as safety, training and rental.
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