Spain AFM announces machine tool output value in 2009

According to the estimates of the Spanish Machine Tool Manufacturers Association (AFM), in 2009 Spain exported machine tools worth 575.2 million euros, down 21.8% from 736 million euros in 2008. In 2009, the output value of Spanish machine tools was 762.5 million euros, down 27.8% from 1.06 billion euros in 2008, the lowest value in the past 10 years. AFM Chairman Koldo Arandia pointed out: 'Despite the sharp drop in global demand under the impact of the financial crisis, our products still show strong international competitiveness.' From the analysis of exporting countries and regions, Germany is still Spain's most important export market, and its export share accounts for 25% of the total. France and Italy ranked second and third, but their shares dropped significantly. In particular, Italy, whose market share was 20% in 2008, dropped sharply to 8% in 2009. India maintained its 2008 share and jumped to fifth place. Although China's market share has dropped slightly, it is still in fifth place. The market with the largest increase was Russia, which ranked sixth in 2009. It was followed by Portugal, Mexico, Brazil and the United Kingdom. In 2009, Spain's machine tool imports fell sharply, and its import value fell 54.5% to 215 million euros from 473.3 million euros in 2008. In addition, the consumption of Spanish machine tools (production + imports - exports) fell by 49.3% year-on-year. In recent years, the demand for the local machine tool market in Spain has been very weak, and in 2009 this situation has further deteriorated. At present, the domestic market has not shown any positive factors, which means that its recovery process will be more complicated and slower than exports. But the home market is still the largest and most important market for Spanish machine tools.