Spurred by an urgent industrial transition towards autonomous and circular manufacturing, the value of the global textile machinery sector is set to rise to $32.7 billion in 2026. Against this backdrop, the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition prepares to host over 1,200 exhibitors in Istanbul this June. Industry leaders are no longer viewing ‘Green Tech’ as a secondary specialty but as the primary driver of capital expenditure. With the Middle East and Africa projected to be the fastest-growing markets with a 6.3 per cent CAGR, the exhibition serves as the critical bridge for investors navigating high European production costs and the push for ‘lights-out’ factory operations.
Predictive intelligence and the rise of digital twins
The narrative at ITM 2026 has shifted from mechanical speed to data-led precision. Digital twin technology is now a central requirement for tier-one manufacturers, with early adopters reporting a 30 per cent reduction in commissioning time and a 12 per cent decrease in chemical waste through real-time simulation of dyeing and spinning profiles. As labor shortages strain global supply chains, the demand for Industry 4.0-ready, fully automated lines is outperforming semi-automatic alternatives, growing at a robust 6.7 per cent annual rate. These systems allow mills to monitor thermal profiles and energy usage per kilogram of yarn, turning unpredictable overheads into manageable data points.
Circularity and waterless dyeing scalability
Sustainability in 2026 is defined by ‘textile-to-textile’ recycling capabilities. Exhibition halls are expected to highlight machinery capable of chemically separating complex fiber blends - a final hurdle for the circular economy. Technologies such as CO₂-based waterless dyeing are gaining commercial traction, offering up to 90 per cent reductions in water consumption. According to Adil Nalbant, President, TEMSAD, Turkish machinery exports are on track to exceed $1 billion, driven by these R&D-heavy innovations. For global brands facing tightening ESG regulations, the hardware showcased at ITM 2026 represents the only viable path to compliance and long-term profitability in a resource-constrained market.
The ITM Exhibition is the premier global showcase for textile sub-sectors, including spinning, weaving, and finishing. Organized through a strategic partnership between Tüyap, Teknik Fuarcılık, and TEMSAD, it serves major markets across Eurasia and Africa. Recent performance indicates a 10 per cent increase in regional machinery exports, with 2026 plans focusing on integrating AI-driven quality control across all product categories to sustain Turkey’s position as a top-three global textile machinery hub.
