Italian off-highway machinery sales grew 3% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with 9,946 units sold. The overall sales number comprised 9,471 construction machines (+2%) and 475 road machines (+10%), according to data analysed by Unacea (Italian Construction Machinery Union). Unacea is the industry partner for the next edition of SaMoTer, the triennial International Construction Machinery Exhibition, to be held at Veronafiere in Verona, 6-9 May 2026.
According to further figures contained in the latest Unacea-Cer report, Italian construction machinery exports between January and May 2025 totalled €1.293 billion, a 8.8% decline compared to the same period in 2024. Countries where exports increased the most between January and April 2025 include India, the Middle East, and Africa. The machine categories posting the worst export results between January and May 2025 were: concrete machinery (-22%), drilling machinery (-12.1%), aggregate preparation machinery (-11.8%), and road construction machinery (-8%). There was a smaller export downturn for tower cranes (-4.4%) and for earthmoving machinery and equipment (-4.2%).
Italian off-highway machinery imports for the January to May 2025 period totalled €828 million, down 2.9%. Despite a 17.6% decline from 2024, the balance of trade remains in the black by €464 million. Even though government incentives support the Italian market, it remains among the most important in Europe by volume and fleet size, notes Unacea and Cer.
Against this sales background, SaMoTer 2026 will be a landmark international event for the entire supply chain: from earthmoving to lifting/hoisting, demolition, drilling and crushing, from quarry to construction site vehicles, from concrete to the road sector, as well as equipment, engine components and spare parts, logistics, services and ICT.
The Veronafiere-organised-and-hosted exhibition is part of the cycle of international partner shows under the CECE banner (the European federation that brings together associations of construction machinery manufacturers). The showpiece event will highlight the Industry 4.0 revolution in the construction and off-highway machinery sector by focusing on strategic topics, including ecological transition and machine sustainability, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, construction site automation, and new solutions for road infrastructure. SaMoTer 2026 will also showcase best practices in safety and training, as well as the best of the off-highway machine rental market.
