Italian Textile Machinery Orders Fall Sharply in Early 2025
Milan, May 15, 2025 — The Italian textile machinery sector is facing a tough start in 2025. According to ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), orders dropped by 29% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The orders index is now at 41.8 points (base year 2021 = 100).
Both the domestic and foreign markets are struggling.
- In Italy, orders fell by 57%.
- In foreign markets, orders declined by 25%.
- The foreign index reached 43.3 points.
- The domestic index dropped to just 30.5 points.
The order backlog at the end of March 2025 ensures 3.6 months of production for machinery manufacturers.
Compared to the previous quarter (October-December 2024), orders have decreased by 15%.
Reasons for the Decline
Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT, explained that:
- The sector is performing worse than it did at the end of 2024.
- Geopolitical tensions from last year continue to hurt the industry.
- The situation has worsened due to new tariffs by the Trump administration.
- In the U.S., orders are nearly frozen as businesses wait for political clarity.
However, there are some positive signs:
- China, India, and Pakistan—important markets for Italian textile machinery—are showing early signs of recovery compared to early 2024.
Critical Situation in Italy
- The domestic market is in serious trouble.
- The current orders index is even lower than during the 2020 pandemic crisis.
- Salvadè called on the Italian government to:
- Implement targeted incentives for investing in machinery.
- Ensure the processes are simple and fast so companies can access support quickly.
