The Italian textile machinery association ACIMIT has reported a decline in orders in the first quarter of 2020 for the sector.

The index of orders intake for textile machines drawn up by ACIMIT for the period from January to March 2020 fell by 31 per cent compared to the same period of 2019. The index value stood at 72.2 basis points (2015 = 100).

Orders intake was negative both on foreign markets and in Italy. In the foreign markets orders declined by 26 per cent, while in the domestic market they declined by 57 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2019.”

ACIMIT represents an industrial sector that comprises roughly 300 manufacturers (employing around 12,000 people), which produce machinery for an overall worth of around 2.3 billion euros, of which 82% are exported. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability and quality are the hallmarks that have made Italian textile machinery worldwide leaders.