Growth for the Italian textile machinery market is progressing, with positive orders trend continuing through to the third quarter of 2017 making them confident that they will close out the year on a positive note albeit following a more contained rhythm.

The Association Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) president Alessandro Zucchi said that the extended measures relating to Industry 4.0, as envisaged in the upcoming Financial Budget Law will serve to keep this thrust going towards the digitalisation process necessary for the entire Italian textile sector.

Foreign markets have shown a 6% increase, with the index reaching a value of 119.4 points. As for Italy’s domestic front, the increase instead amounted to 8%, with an absolute value for the index of 51.5 points.

The primary foreign markets for Italian textile machinery have elicited a constant demand, while growth has been ongoing for Italy’s domestic market, even if at a lower overall rhythm, compared to the quarter from April to June.

ACIMIT represents an industrial sector comprising around 300 manufacturers, employing close to 12,000 people and producing machinery for an overall value of about EUR 2.7 billion, with exports amounting to more than 85% of total sales.

According to data elaborated by ACIMIT, for the period from July to September, the orders index for textile machinery has risen by 6%, compared to the same period in 2016. The index has a value of 107.3 points (2010 basis = 100).