MODENA, Italy—Three Italian industrial associations have voiced their concerns over the increasing costs of production and shortages of raw materials and have urged national and European officials to take urgent action.
In a joint statement, the Italian rubber and plastics machinery association Amaplast, as well as the association for ceramic machinery (ACIMAC) and the packaging machinery union UCIMA said the Ukraine conflict had "further aggravated the unfavorable conditions of the market after the COVID pandemic."
"The uncontrolled increase in energy costs and the unavailability of materials result in an increase in purchase prices," said the statement.
Higher prices, in turn, can "seriously endanger production" and "block entire supply chains."
"This will undermine, on the one hand, the strong recovery underway, and on the other, weaken the international competitiveness of advanced [machinery] made in Italy," the associations added.
The machinery and equipment associations said they had previously voiced their concerns over higher prices and material shortages, but in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, "the tone of the emergency has become increasingly critical."