ECONOMY AND MARKET
Tab. 1- Sector Size in Italy
INDICATOR |
VALUE |
Ateco sector |
22 – Manufacture of rubber and plastic products |
Number of companies |
Approximately 4,000 |
Employment |
More than 160,000 employees |
Type of activity |
Production of components, semi-finished products, and technical products |
Role in manufacturing |
Key intermediate sector within industrial supply chains |
Source: Federazione Gomma Plastica nel rapporto Confindustria.
Tab. 2- Position of Rubber and Plastics in Production Supply Chains
HIGHLY INTERCONNECTED MANUFACTURING SECTORS Metallurgy Chemicals Metal products Rubber and plastics
Electrical equipment
ROLE IN VALUE CHAINS
Supply of industrial materials and components Production of raw materials and intermediates Components and industrial processing Production of semi-finished products and components for numerous industries Integration into systems and technological products
This positioning allows Italian plastics processors to compete not on production volume, but on manufacturing flexibility, specialization, and the ability to adapt to the needs of industrial customers.
BUSINESS STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTION ORGANIZATION Another distinguishing feature of the sector is its business structure. As in much of Italian manufacturing, the plastics processing industry consists of a combination of medium and large companies alongside a broad network of small and micro-enterprises. According to the report, the distribution of value added within the sector is relatively balanced. Medium and large companies make a significant contribution to production, while smaller businesses continue to play an important role in the overall organization of the production system. This structure reflects the typical Italian industrial model, based on complex supply chains and the strong specialization of SMEs, which are often integrated as qualified suppliers within broader production networks.
PRODUCTION DYNAMICS AND PRODUCTIVITY From the perspective of economic performance, the rubber and plastics sector has experienced moderate productivity growth in recent years, with annual growth rates ranging between 0 % and 1 % during the period analyzed in the report. This trend reflects relatively stable performance compared with other industrial sectors, confirming the sector’ s role as a well-established segment of Italian manufacturing, although without the rapid advances observed in more technology-intensive industries.
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Tab. 3- Company Size Structure
COMPANY SIZE Micro and small enterprises Medium-sized enterprises Large enterprises Overall structure
COMPETITIVENESS AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES From the companies’ standpoint, the sector’ s competitiveness is now significantly influenced by the European and international regulatory framework. According to the Italian Rubber and Plastics Federation, one of the main concerns is the impact of policies associated with the European Green Deal. Companies believe these policies may risk undermining competitiveness compared with international competitors, particularly those in Asia. At the same time, businesses identify production flexibility and a high level of technological expertise as key competitive advantages that enable them to meet the increasingly complex requirements of downstream industrial sectors.
PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE Looking ahead, the sector has identified several strategic areas for investment. These include:
• Development of professional skills, particularly in sustainability and digitalization.
CHARACTERISTICS IN THE SECTOR Widespread presence and strong production specialization Important role in generating value added Significant presence within industrial supply chains Production system based on integrated supply chains
• Renewal and modernization of production machinery.
• Strengthening research and development activities.
These elements are considered essential for maintaining the international competitiveness of Italy’ s plastics processing industry in a context characterized by increasing regulatory pressure, technological change, and intense global competition.
A QUIET PILLAR OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY The rubber and plastics sector is one of the least visible yet most strategic pillars of Italian manufacturing. Its strength lies in its ability to integrate into industrial value chains by providing indispensable components and solutions to numerous production sectors. Within an industrial system such as Italy’ s, based on extensive supply networks and a strong role for specialized SMEs, plastics processing continues to perform an essential function in supporting the overall competitiveness of manufacturing.
Italian technology plast / October 2026
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