The Italian textile machinery sector experienced a significant slowdown in Q3, FY25. As per figures compiled by the ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) Economics Department, the orders index declined by 16 per cent to settle at an absolute value of 41.8 points.
The decline was uniform across both key markets. Orders in the domestic market declined by 17 per cent with the indeed reaching 49.9 points while foreign orders contracted by 16 per cent to reach an index value of 40.7 points.
Acknowledging the challenging business climate, Marco Salvadè, President, ACIMIT, notes, overall demand remains weak with the decline in domestic order intake reflecting the difficult period being experienced by the textile supply chain in Italy.
Despite the negative quarterly performance, the sector maintains a stable order backlog, ensuring four months of guaranteed production,
While total order intake for the first nine months of 2025 declined, Salvadè points to pockets of resilience abroad. Official data for the first half of the year shows Italian textile machinery exports growing in key markets, including India, Pakistan, and Egypt.
Optimism has also been fueled by the recent conclusion of the main Asian trade show for textile machinery, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025, held in Singapore. Salvadè expressed satisfaction with the event, stating that the 100 Italian exhibitors likely benefited from both the quantity and quality of visitors, generating promising business prospects.
He concluded by saying, the groundwork laid at the trade fair will translate into a stronger order intake within a geopolitical context marked by reduced uncertainty.
