ECONOMY AND MARKET
The role of the plastics industry in Italy
Indicator |
Value |
Total revenues |
EUR 58.4 billion |
Added value |
EUR 15.3 billion |
Employees |
164,000 |
Share of Italian manufacturing industry |
4,9 % |
Position in Europe |
2nd after Germany |
Position among Italian industrial sectors |
9th |
to the overall competitiveness of Italy’ s manufacturing system.
THE CENTRAL ROLE OF PROCESSORS Within the value chain, the processing segment remains the sector’ s main economic driver. Over the past five years, plastics processors have recorded a 21 % growth in real added value compared to 2019 and currently represent approximately 74.7 % of the sector’ s total turnover, a significantly higher share than the European average. Conversely, raw material production and waste recycling operations are facing a more challenging situation, with a reduction in real added value in the 2019-2023 period. This trend is also affected by rising energy costs,
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Industrial structure and operations
Indicator |
Value |
Share of European plastics processors operating in Italy |
16 % |
Share of turnover generated by plastics processors |
74.7 % |
Growth in real added value of the plastics processing sector( 2019-2023) + 21 % |
Plastics industry exports
Indicator |
Value |
Italian plastics industry exports( 2024) |
EUR 25 billion |
Share of Italian manufacturing exports |
4.2 % |
Italian technology plast / June-July 2026
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