Italian glass continues to capture the interest of the American market. According to figures released by GIMAV – the Italian Association of Manufacturers and Suppliers of Machinery, Accessories and Special Products for Glass Processing, affiliated with Confindustria – ahead of the upcoming Vitrum, the international exhibition dedicated to the glass industry, scheduled to take place from September 16-19 at Fiera Milano, the United States has once again confirmed its position as the leading export market for the Italian glass sector, encompassing flat glass, hollow glass, accessories and processing technologies.
Thanks to an 11% growth in exports compared to 2023, the US now accounts for 12.3% of Italy’s total glass exports, generating a value of $255 million. Despite a slight dip of 2%, Germany remains the second most important market, with a 9% share of total exports. Turkey ranks third, having overtaken Spain (6%) and France (5.2%) with a 24% increase in 2024, contributing 6.8% to Italy’s overall export volume. Other countries also delivered strong performances, with exports to Hungary rising by 50%, Saudi Arabia up by 30%, and Morocco showing a 94% increase.
As a result, 2024 has proven to be a year of growth and solid productivity for the Italian glass industry, which reached a total economic value of over $11 billion, broken down as follows: $3 billion in glass processing machinery, $1.6 billion in flat glass, and between $2.8 and $3.4 billion in hollow glass.
More data
When it comes to flat glass machinery, the US once again stands out as the largest export market, accounting for 17.4% of the total export volume, though growth in this segment has slightly slowed. Turkey ranks fifth with a share exceeding 5%. Exports to Brazil and Saudi Arabia rose by 3% and 63% respectively, while Japan has entered the top 20 export destinations. The report also highlights encouraging trends for Egypt, where exports grew by 10% to $7.3 million, and Oman, which saw a doubling of exports (+100%).
For hollow glass machinery, the US also tops the list with a 120% increase, establishing itself as the number one export market, followed by Mexico (+14%) and Turkey (+100%). Hungary and Morocco have climbed into the top 10, whereas China (-40%), France (-14%), and India (-28%) showed declining export figures, although they still remain among the leading markets in the sector.
The accessories and auxiliary technologies segment also returned positive signals. Germany emerged as the best-performing market and continues to be the top destination, with a 6% increase and a 15.6% share of total exports – at least twice as much as any other country. Brazil (+47%), India (+20%), and the UAE (+3%) also saw notable improvements. In contrast, Spain, the US, Turkey, and Poland experienced slight declines in export activity, ranging between -1% and -2%.
What GIMAV officials say
“GIMAV serves as the cornerstone of a system that invests in innovation, promotes the competitiveness of the sector, and creates vital connections between key players in the glass industry,” says Dino Zandonella Necca, President of GIMAV and VITRUM. “This year’s survey has once again confirmed the strategic importance of the US market — not only for the glass sector as a whole, but also for the flat and hollow glass machinery segments. The potential introduction of new US tariffs could significantly influence export trends and market entry strategies, depending on the direction of future American trade policies. The collaborative work orchestrated by GIMAV, along with industry gatherings such as VITRUM, offers critical tools for maintaining strong positions in established markets and seizing opportunities in emerging ones. For more than 30 years, VITRUM has been a pivotal event for Italian glass companies — a strategic platform to consolidate business relationships and engage with international stakeholders who are interested in cutting-edge, Italian-made glass technologies and in the promotion of Italian innovation.”
