Italian Textile Machinery Orders Plunge 29% In Q1 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, orders for textile machinery recorded by ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) dropped sharply by 29% compared to the same period in 2024, with the index falling to 41.8 points (base year 2021=100). Both domestic and international markets witnessed steep declines—orders in Italy plummeted by 57%, while foreign orders fell 25%, with respective indices at 30.5 and 43.3 points. Compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2024), total orders were also down 15%, with a backlog covering just 3.6 months of production.
ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè stated, “The sector started 2025 on an even weaker footing than it ended 2024. On international markets, the deep uncertainty triggered by last year’s geopolitical tensions has been further worsened by the tariff decisions implemented by the Trump administration. In the US, orders remain at a standstill as the market awaits the next steps from the President.”
However, he noted positive signs in key markets like China, India and Pakistan, which are showing early signs of recovery.
In Italy, the scenario is more severe, with the orders index falling below levels seen even during the 2020 downturn. Salvadè called on the Italian government to introduce targeted and structural incentives for capital goods investments, emphasizing the need for simple and accessible procedures to support struggling companies.
