CEMA, the umbrella group that European machinery trade associations belong to, has detected a modest upturn in confidence within the trade, although there is no indication of an immediate return to the levels of business experienced in the years leading up to the slump.

In both its February and March reports, the organisation recorded a slightly more optimistic note with 57% of respondents indicating their current business to be satisfying or even better, compared to 33% in January.

February and March show little difference between them but they are showing a reassuring jump up from January, and while it might be argued that the boost in confidence has stalled, it hasn't declined.

CEMA itself points out that the recent recovery in the general business climate has so far been driven primarily by improving general turnover expectations, adding that the confidence index has once again improved for nearly all European markets.

It appears that it is Polish market which is leading the recovery, along with Spain and Italy within Europe, while South America is viewed as the great hope globally.

Looking ahead for the the rest of 2025, survey participants expect their company's turnover to slightly increase on average with no great boon in sight.

This modest anticipation for the future is reflected in the forecasts for employment where as many companies expect to recruit staff as the number that expect to lay staff off, while the majority believe that staff numbers will remain much the same.

Thankfully, while CEMA is now recognising signs of an upswing in the machinery trade although no great take-off as yet, the message is that the tide may be turning, rather than any great flood of business poised to pour into the order books.

Away from the theoretical deliberations and surveys there are still a number of signs that the trade is a long way from a full recovery.

There are reports of factories merely ticking over rather than working at full capacity while just this week news arrived of one company cutting prices as another is boasting of having full stocks in dealers yards, ready to roll out on to farms.

These are not the signals of a flourishing trade and yet both the milk and beef sectors are doing well at present so it might be expected that would be reflected in increased sales, something that is not happening at present.