India Becomes Italy’s Largest Textile Machinery Export Market
India has overtaken China to become the largest export market for Italy’s textile machinery industry, highlighting the country’s growing importance in global textile manufacturing.
According to ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, the shift reflects a long-term change in global demand as Asia continues to strengthen its position as the world’s largest textile production hub.
Italy remains the world’s fourth-largest exporter of textile machinery after China, Germany and Japan. Global textile machinery trade is expected to reach €26.5 billion in 2025, representing a 3.4% increase following two years of decline, with Asia continuing to drive investment and machinery demand.
ACIMIT said India’s rise as the leading destination for Italian textile machinery exports is the result of sustained investments in textile manufacturing rather than a short-term market trend. Although the United States remains the largest individual importing country, Asia accounts for more than half of global textile machinery imports.
Despite expectations that market conditions will remain challenging through 2026, the Italian textile machinery industry remains optimistic about long-term growth. Manufacturers are increasingly looking ahead to ITMA 2027, the world’s leading textile machinery exhibition, which will be hosted in Italy, as a key opportunity to showcase innovation and support market recovery.
India’s emergence as Italy’s top export destination reinforces its strategic role in the global textile value chain and reflects the increasing demand for advanced textile manufacturing technologies.
