Textile machinery orders in Italy fell sharply in the first quarter of 2025, down 29 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, according to ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers.
The orders index dropped to 41.8 points (2021=100), with domestic orders plummeting by 57 per cent and foreign demand slipping 25 per cent. The index for foreign markets stood at 43.3 points, while Italy’s domestic index reached a new low of 30.5 points below the slump seen during the 2020 crisis.
Compared to the previous quarter (October-December 2024), overall orders also declined 15 per cent. The order backlog at the end of March secured just 3.6 months of production.
ACIMIT President Marco Salvade said the industry entered 2025 in a weaker position, citing lingering geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs introduced by the Trump administration as key factors dampening demand. “In the US, orders are frozen as the market awaits the next presidential steps,” he noted.
Despite the downturn, Salvade pointed to signs of recovery in key Asian markets like China, India, and Pakistan. He urged the Italian government to introduce swift, targeted investment incentives to revitalise domestic demand for capital goods.
