Italian textile machinery manufacturers experienced a sharp short-term momentum shift in Q2, FY26, with overall order intake rebounding by 25 per cent compared to the preceding quarter. Data released by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, highlights, domestic bookings increased by 39 per cent Q-o-Q, while international orders rose by 23 per cent, reversing the sluggish performance observed early in the fiscal year.
Export stability buffers sector
Despite persistent macroeconomic volatility, foreign buyers account for nearly 80 per cent of total incoming order volume. Overseas demand remained particularly robust across weaving, knitting, and finishing machinery segments. While domestic orders declined by 25 per cent T-o-Y - partly due to elevated baseline comparisons from 2025 - the industry’s solid foreign footprint continues to cushion overall revenue. The sector maintains a healthy capacity utilization rate of 79.7 per cent, with order backlogs guaranteeing approximately 3.5 months of assured production.
Strategic policy impact
The positive performance in international markets provides crucial operational stability while domestic buyers digest newly introduced national incentives, observes Marco Salvadè, President, ACIMIT. Capital deployment in the domestic market is expected to pick up momentum as Italian textile mills gradually leverage the government's 2026–2028 hyper-depreciation tax scheme enacted in June.
Generating over €2 billion in annual revenue
ACIMIT represents over 300 Italian manufacturers of textile machinery, covering spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, and finishing equipment. The trade body drives technological modernization and export growth, serving major global apparel hubs across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Association members generate over €2 billion in annual revenue, drawing on decades of precision engineering heritage.
