In the second quarter of 2025, Italy’s textile machinery sector recorded early signs of domestic recovery, according to figures released by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. While overall order intake was down by 1% compared to the same period in 2024, increased demand from the domestic market offered cautious optimism.

The order index compiled by ACIMIT’s Economics Department stood at 47.1 points (base year 2021=100). Orders from Italian customers rose by 38% year-on-year, reaching 70.9 points. This uptick nearly offset the 7% decline experienced in foreign markets, where the index dropped to 43.8 points.

The average order backlog reached 3.9 months of guaranteed production, up slightly from 3.6 months in Q1. Despite this, the sector remains underutilised. Production capacity usage averaged only 55% in the first half of 2025, though this is expected to rise to 60% in the latter half of the year.

“The signals coming from the domestic market are encouraging, but concerns about the future remain,” said ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè. “The increase recorded between April and June will need to be confirmed over the course of the year.”

On the international front, Salvadè highlighted a continuing climate of uncertainty. He pointed to factors such as new U.S. tariffs on EU products and wider geopolitical instability as potential disruptors. A 15% duty and the depreciation of the euro against the dollar could affect competitiveness, especially as other non-EU suppliers may face different tariff rates.

Despite these challenges, the United States remains a critical export market for Italian textile machinery. It ranked as the fourth largest market in 2024, with over €112 million in value, and saw further growth of 3% in the first four months of 2025. In contrast, sales to China and Turkey - Italy’s two most important markets - dropped sharply in the same period, by 32% and 47% respectively.

The outlook for the remainder of the year will depend on whether domestic momentum continues and how international trade tensions evolve. ACIMIT continues to monitor market conditions closely while supporting its members in navigating ongoing uncertainties.

www.acimit.it