RESULTS OF THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY TECHSOLIDS ON THE 2020 SITUATION AND PROSPECTS FOR 2021 OF THE SPANISH SOLIDS TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
• 2020 was better than expected: 80% of companies made profits
• Good forecasts for 2021
• The uncertainty caused in the sector by the 2019 Covid pandemic continues
• 70% of companies in the sector export
For 6 years, Techsolids (the Spanish Solid Technology Association) has been carrying out an analysis of the situation of the Solid Technology sector in Spain. The study has been carried out by analysing the results of an exhaustive survey of 114 Spanish companies in the sector. On this occasion, a block of questions has been included again on the impact of Covid 19 on companies in the sector.
The main conclusions are as follows:
Despite the poor forecasts declared by business leaders in the sector last year, the reality is that 80% of companies in the sector have made profits in 2020.
One of the most positive aspects detected in the survey is that 69% of companies in the sector carried out innovation activities during 2020, both at the product, process and business model level. This increase in R&D&I investments has translated into an improvement in the competitiveness of companies in the sector.
Compared to previous years, the percentage of companies in the sector that export has increased significantly in 2020: 70% of the companies in the sector. It is an increasingly internationalised sector. Spanish technology for the storage, transport, handling and processing of solid materials is increasingly known and valued in international markets.
The markets where the most was exported in 2020 were European and Latin American, with France, Portugal, Germany, Mexico and Chile standing out.
The priority sectors for solids technology are, as in previous years, the food, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, sectors that are traditionally less affected by economic crises, such as the one caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
There is moderate optimism in the sector, with 67% of companies believing that 2021 will be better than 2020, and less than 5% believing it will be worse. However, uncertainty over the evolution of the pandemic continues to condition forecasts according to 48% of companies in the sector.
Domestic and international demand and the financial situation of customers were the factors that had the most positive impact in 2020. However, the political situation, the price of raw materials and labour costs were the factors that negatively affected companies in the sector.
The sectors least affected by the impact of Covid-19 are, in this order: food, pharmaceutical, detergents, chemicals and animal feed. The most affected are the aeronautical and naval/port sectors.
25% of companies in the sector believe that some of the changes in habits and customs that the pandemic has caused in companies will continue. In particular, teleworking, videoconferencing and more flexible schedules. But it should also be noted that 60% of companies in the sector believe that once the pandemic is over, all prevention measures will be forgotten.
The survey was conducted by Techsolids between May and July 2021.
We attach the detailed results of the survey
For more information: Claudia Simón/ Techsolids/ Claudia@techsolids.com,/ TF 932386868
