ACIMIT: Domestic Orders Spur Italian Textile Machinery Sector in 2014Q4

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ACIMIT: Domestic Orders Spur Italian Textile Machinery Sector in 2014Q4

Textile machinery orders for the year’s fourth quarter drop overall as sales abroad take a dip, while domestic orders appear on the rise. For the textile machinery sector, the year’s fourth quarter resulted in a decline in orders, mainly due to a negative performance recorded in foreign sales. These findings have been reported in an economic survey conducted by ACIMIT, the Italian Association representing the industry, indicating a 4% drop over the previous quarter.

ACIMIT President Raffaella Carabelli explained the positive data for the domestic market, “The growth in orders in Italy over the last segment of 2014 appears to be a good sign for 2015, during which we will reach an apex with ITMA, the premier trade fair in the industry, to be held in Milan from November 12-19, 2015. I’m certain that the entire textile industry can benefit from the current global economic trends, and I’m referring especially to the weaker European currency and lower interest rates.”

Optimism is the key word for Italy’s textile machinery sector on the eve of hosting ITMA; a sense of optimism that is already evidenced by the event’s updated figures. The Milan edition will exceed the 100,000 sq. metre threshold (the previous edition held in Barcelona in 2011 covered 80,000 sq. m of exhibition space). By end of January, 388 Italian exhibitors had confirmed their commitment to participate in the event, out of a total of 1500 participants, for an overall growth in acquired exhibition surface area of 48% compared to the previous edition. Requests for increased exhibition space already optioned and demands put forward by new exhibitors continue to pile into an already crowded waiting list.