The orders index for Italian textile machinery manufacturers grew during the first quarter of 2016, especially due to the push from Italy’s domestic market. Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT said that the recovery on the domestic market compared to the minimum recorded a year ago is highly encouraging. In foreign markets, order have instead dropped off slightly, only a few markets have performed well.

Based on an industry survey conducted by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, during the period from January to March 2016 overall orders increased by 3% compared to the same period the previous year. The value of the index for the first quarter of 2016 came in at 93.6 points (basis 2010=100).

This growth factor regarded only Italy, where the index recorded an absolute value of 65 points (+82% compared to January-March 2015, which had recorded the lowest point in terms of orders in recent years). Abroad, the value for orders came in at 100 points, a 3% drop over the same quarter for 2015.

ACIMIT President Raffaella Carabelli emphasizes the encouraging signs from the domestic market, the ACIMIT survey has certainly highlighted a positive moment, which is also a consequence of what was witnessed at the last edition of ITMA, held in Milan last November.

However, the situation appears less encouraging on foreign markets. The current global economic situation is not too much positive, comments ACIMIT’s President. The recovery in China in 2015 has yet to be verified, while other Asian countries, such as Bangladesh, which invested significantly last year, are showing signs of slowing down.

Many Italian textile manufacturers have returned to investing due to the support provided by the current Government, with measures that promote the acquisition of machinery.