Sharp Decline in Italian Textile Machinery Orders in Q1 2025
The Italian textile machinery industry experienced a significant downturn in the first quarter of 2025, with total orders falling by 29% compared to the same period in 2024, according to ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers). The orders index dropped to 41.8 points (base year 2021=100).
Both domestic and international markets contributed to the slump. Orders in Italy plunged by 57%, while foreign demand fell by 25%. The respective indices stood at 30.5 for domestic and 43.3 for foreign markets. Compared to the final quarter of 2024, overall orders also declined by 15%.
ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè attributed the weak start to 2025 to ongoing geopolitical instability and the tariff policies introduced by the Trump administration, which have created uncertainty in key markets like the US. Despite this, early data from China, India, and Pakistan show promising signs of a rebound.
Salvadè also expressed concern about the worsening domestic outlook, stating, “We must look beyond 2025 and urge the government to implement effective, accessible incentives for capital investment to revitalize the sector.”
With a current order backlog covering just 3.6 months of production, the Italian textile machinery industry is calling for immediate policy support to stabilize and rebuild momentum.