Can the uncertainty of global markets become a driver of change for Italian companies? Manufacturing seems to say yes. Faced with an unstable international scenario, companies are not standing idly by, but are investing in production processes, innovating, looking abroad as an opportunity, and focusing on energy efficiency to strengthen competitiveness and resilience. This is the picture provided by the MECSPE Observatory [1], the leading trade fair for the manufacturing industry, scheduled to take place at BolognaFiere from 3 to 5 March 2027, relating to the first quarter of 2026.
But to understand the current state and potential of the Italian manufacturing industry, which in 2026 will reach a value of 1,168 billion euros and which, between 2027 and 2030, could grow at an average annual rate of 1% at constant prices [2], we must start with the level of satisfaction of entrepreneurs. In the first four months of 2026, the picture that emerges cannot be described as brilliant, but neither is it critical: in fact, only 16% of respondents report a low level of satisfaction, while for 55% it is medium and for 29% it is high.
A cautious optimism that follows the company’s performance: almost two-thirds of companies (63%) say they are in line with the targets set for 2026; in the first four months of the year, more than three out of four companies recorded stable or growing turnover compared to the same period in 2025, while more than one in two companies rate their order book as at least sufficient.
Looking to the future, there is also caution but not pessimism: 85% of companies are approaching the two-year period 2026-2027 with at least moderate confidence, with 22% having high expectations. The environment remains challenging, but it is also pushing companies to accelerate change. While international uncertainty is the main concern for almost half of the companies (48%), followed by the general market trend (41%) and the increase in raw material prices (40%), these pressures are also prompting entrepreneurs to rethink strategies, processes and investment priorities in innovation and efficiency. An approach that confirms the ability of Italian manufacturing to react and transform difficulties into new opportunities for growth.
Automation and digital: current challenges are accelerating innovation
Innovation is therefore one of the main drivers of change. Among the trends that are set to take hold or strengthen in the coming years, entrepreneurs put automation and robotics for production efficiency in first place (34%), followed by digitisation and process interconnection (33%) and customisation and made-to-measure production (31%). There is also a growing focus on longer-term transformations: 27% identify environmental sustainability and low-impact processes as one of the main areas of development, while 23% see the energy transition and the reduction of consumption as strategic areas in which to invest.
The corporate strategy thus appears to be gradual and concrete: it begins with technologies capable of generating immediate benefits in terms of productivity, quality, and efficiency, thereby paving the way for more profound transformations. In this process, MECSPE confirms its role as the venue where change takes shape, offering tangible opportunities for dialogue and professional development through initiatives such as MECSPE LAB – Innovation Space — a special initiative designed to anticipate market trends and disseminate innovation-related content — and the MECSPE Arena, a focal point for debate on strategic issues shaping the future of the manufacturing industry.
Export confidence grows: 88% of companies see opportunities in foreign markets
Encouraging signs are also emerging regarding export prospects: 88% of companies view the 2026–2027 period with confidence — an increase over the previous survey that confirms the pivotal role of foreign markets in the sector’s development strategies.
Rather than retrenching, companies are redefining their expansion paths. Among exporting firms, 33% aim to consolidate their presence in established, more stable markets, while 32% are looking to new destinations to diversify risk and seize further business opportunities. Another 22% are focused on finding more reliable partners and distributors with strong local roots.
Concerns regarding tariffs also appear to have eased: more than half of the companies state they are little to not at all worried about the impact on their future prospects. Following an initial period of intense scrutiny, a significant portion of the manufacturing sector thus seems to have begun adapting to the new trade landscape by adjusting strategies and business models to remain competitive in international markets.
Energy and supply chains: new investments driven by cost pressures
Another challenge concerns energy costs, which continue to put pressure on businesses: more than eight out of ten companies anticipate rising energy costs, although 57% expect the price hikes to have a manageable impact that will not jeopardize business sustainability. Thus, the energy challenge is becoming a new opportunity for growth. Indeed, 42% of companies plan to invest in renewable energy or energy efficiency, turning cost pressures into a chance to accelerate the shift toward production models that are more sustainable, efficient, and less exposed to energy price volatility.
A similar dynamic applies to supply chains. Supply difficulties remain widespread, yet for seven out of ten companies, they have had only a moderate or minimal impact on production. To strengthen supply chain resilience, companies are diversifying suppliers, entering into long-term agreements, increasing inventories, and identifying alternative materials — measures that help build supply chains that are more flexible and better prepared to withstand future shocks.
“Global transformations are opening up new opportunities for Italian manufacturing — entrepreneurs who are prudent today but ready to invest in the future“, comments Maruska Sabato, Project Manager at MECSPE. “Data from the Observatory shows companies that are aware of the challenges ahead yet determined to strengthen their competitiveness through investment, innovation, and expansion into new markets. Digital transformation, energy efficiency, and supply chain resilience are no longer merely development goals but vital strategic levers for facing the future. At MECSPE, our aim is to continue supporting companies on this journey by creating opportunities for dialogue and connecting the demand for innovation with its supply“.
See you at MECSPE Bologna 2027
From March 3 to 5, 2027, BolognaFiere will host the latest edition of MECSPE, a strategic meeting point for the Italian and European manufacturing supply chain. The event will offer companies the opportunity to network, discover new market trends, and get a preview of industry innovations — including technologies and solutions designed to improve production efficiency, digitize processes, and address challenges related to energy, materials, and supply chain reorganization.
The figures for MECSPE BOLOGNA 2026
60,581 professional visitors, 92,000 m2 of exhibition space, over 2,000 companies present, 13 exhibition halls, 18 special initiatives, 157 conferences.
The MECSPE trade shows
Machinery and Tools – Machine tools, equipment, tools, and design software; Sheet Metal Processing – Bending, stamping, cutting, assembly, welding, materials, and software; Digital Factory – Industrial IT, IoT, industrial sensors, cloud manufacturing, automatic identification technologies, applications, devices, instrumentation, and smart components for process interpretation and interconnection; Logistics – Packaging, wrapping, handling, material handling, lean manufacturing, warehouse management software, supply chain management, safety systems, PPE, outsourcing; Mechanical Subcontracting – Precision machining, metal fabrication, mechanical construction, fasteners, foundries, small metal parts, wire processing, industrial contract manufacturing, micro-machining; Eurostampi (Molds, Plastics, Rubber, and Composites) – Processing of plastics, rubber, and composites, machinery and plant, auxiliary equipment, innovative materials, molding, extrusion, packaging, blow molding, molds, models, standardized mold components, design, simulation and design software, micro-machining; Additive Manufacturing – 3D printing, rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, reverse engineering systems and services, additive technology, materials, services, hardware (3D printers and scanners, accessories), simulation and design software; Treatments and Finishes – Surface treatment systems, furnaces, electroplating, chemical and electronic processes, washing, metallization, enameling, galvanizing, treatment products and accessories, heat treatment, painting/coating; Non-ferrous materials and alloys – Processing of non-ferrous materials (Aluminum, Titanium, Magnesium, Light alloys), Die-casting, Foundries, Contract manufacturing, Technologies, Design, Engineering; Automation and Robotics – Assembly \ Automation and robotics \ Electronic component production and distribution \ Consumables and production equipment \ Assembly and handling \ Production and distribution of electronics manufacturing machinery \ Electronic design – ED-EDA \ Instrumentation and test systems \ Electronics subcontracting (EMS); Control and Quality – Certification and quality control, Metrology, Measuring instruments, Laboratory testing, Calibration, Analysis equipment, Vision systems; Power Drive – Mechanical transmission components, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Mechatronics, Motion control, Maintenance, Compressed air.
[1]MECSPE Observatory on the manufacturing industry for the first four-month period of 2026, conducted by Nomisma using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing) method in May–June 2026.
[2] Industrial Sectors Analysis Report, May 2026, Prometeia – Intesa Sanpaolo
