Milan - Italy's textile machinery sector has welcomed the latest statistics from ACIMIT, which show that the index of orders intake for the industry was up by 66 per cent for the period from July to September 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.

The latest figures from the machinery association show that the value of the index stood at 119.8 points (basis 2015=100). This growth has been seen on both the Italian and foreign markets, with an increase in domestic orders of 130 per cent compared to the same period in 2020, and up 54 per cent for foreign orders.

However, ACIMIT President Alessandro Zucchi, also noted that the index of orders intake showed a -17 per cent drop when compared to the previous quarter this year, due mainly to the summer break and a demand for machinery that has stabilized over the last few months.

“Overall, the numbers for new orders remain positive, in spite of a slight decline compared to the months prior to the summer period," Zucchi said. "This proves that Italian companies have been capable of responding quickly to new market conditions, as has often happened in other historical periods. The ability to adapt, coupled with a remarkable flexibility, are part of our DNA as Italian businesses, not just in our specific sector.”

This positive moment for Italy’s textile machinery sector is expected to continue through to the year’s end, as ACIMIT’s analysis notes. Indeed, Italian machinery manufacturers are forecasting an increase in the orders intake for the last quarter of the year, both abroad and domestically. "The resumption in trade show attendance we’ve witnessed has improved the climate of confidence among companies," Zucchi added. "However, we need to make the most of this moment, since the difficulties are not yet entirely behind us. In particular, we must continue on the path of digitalization and sustainability.”