In the first quarter of 2025, orders in the industry recorded by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, showed a sharp decline compared to the same period in 2024, down 29%. The orders index stood at 41.8 points which recorded as the most significant ground levels in recent years.
Noteworthy Decline in the Domestic Market
The report signals serious contraction both in domestic and international markets.
-In Italian domestic market, orders dropped by 57% and index recorded as 30.5 points.
-In foreign markets, orders fell by 25% and index recorded as 43.3 points.
-It was reported that the order backlog at the end of the quarter ensured 3.6 months of production.
The downturn also continues when compared to the previous quarter (October-December 2024), with overall orders decreasing by 15%.
Geopolitical Tensions and US Policies Impactful
Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT underlined the ongoing uncertainties from the last quarter of 2024 which led to the slowdown in the industry. In his speech, major emphasis was made on recent US tax regulations and Trump administration practices which have had a negative impact on orders flow.
''In the US, the market awaits the next steps from the President. In this period, many orders remain at a standstill.’’ – Marco Salvadè
Glimmers of Hope from Far-Eastern Markets
On the other hand, glimmers of hope come from some major markets such as China, India, and Pakistan. According to ACIMIT, these regions show slight signs of improvement in export figures compared to the same period of 2024. However, this picture is not sufficient yet to turn the overall outlook positive.
Urgent Call from Salvade to the Italian Government
While emphasizing on the fall in domestic markets which even surpasses the 2020 pandemic levels, Salvadè marked the situation as ‘’critical’’ Also, the association president calls for government for a clear action;
“We need to look beyond 2025. Targeted structural incentives for investments in capital goods should be implemented. These incentives should be supported with simple procedures that allow companies to access them quickly.’’
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