For the third quarter of 2014, orders for Italian textile machinery manufacturers grew compared to the previous quarter. Economic data from industry surveys conducted by ACIMIT, representing the textile machinery sector, indicate a 4% increase. The value of the orders index for the period from July to September came in at 89.8 points (basis 2010=100).

However, this rise in orders is limited to foreign markets, where for the period taken into consideration an increase of 9% was reported, and the index measured a value of 99.4 points. On the other hand, the domestic market remains stagnant. Indeed, in Italy, the absolute value of the index is 38.8 points, with a 22% drop over the previous quarter.

Commenting on the economic data, ACIMIT president Raffaella Carabelli emphasized how the results achieved in foreign markets are evidence of a strengthened competitive capacity on the part of Italian companies. However, this does not hide the great concern felt by the entire sector for the downward trend within Italy.

A sure sign of the difficulties the Italian textile and garments industry is experiencing at home lies in the import data for textile machinery. For the first half of the year, machinery imported from abroad dropped 3% compared to the same period last year.

“2014 will close on a positive note solely thanks to foreign demand,” adds Carabelli. The goal is already set for 2015, when ITMA, the industry’s premier trade show, will be held in Milan, November 12-19, 2015. ACIMIT’s president concludes, “We’re hoping that this major event will act as a catalyst for renewed investments in Italy as well.”

In the meantime, approximately one year away from ITMA 2015, a sign of confidence on the part of Italian businesses in the positive market trend is demonstrated by the increased number of Italian exhibitors (358, +11% compared to the last edition of ITMA, held in Barcelona in 2011), and above all by the surface area reserved by Italian companies (+40%).