Market Watch: Increase in Italian Textile Machinery Production in 2011

On February 7, 2012, the management of Italian textile machinery manufacturers increased in 2011, but industry insiders are still cautious about this year's forecast. The provisional figures for the Italian textile machinery industry in 2011 showed that after a good recovery in 2010, manufacturing production and exports further increased. Prior to this, in 2009, machinery manufacturers were hit hard by the economic recession.

In 2011, the output value of Italian textile machinery production increased by 9% from 2010, from 2.4 billion euros to 2.6 billion euros. Exports increased by 10% and exports amounted to 2.1 billion euros.

Exports remain the driving force behind Italian industrial growth. The vitality of the main textile market is combined with the ability of Italian machinery manufacturers to open up the global market, which has contributed to the maintenance of Italian exports. 25% of overseas sales of Italian machinery are sold in China, and Asian markets account for 50% of total foreign sales.

According to the latest research data, Italy’s exports to all markets in the first 10 months of 2011 have increased significantly, Europe (France, Germany 44%+56%), Non-Europe (+88% Russia, +83 Turkey%), America (USA, Brazil) +81%+15%, Peru+15%), Asia (49% in Bangladesh, 11% in China, 53% in South Korea, 30% in Japan, 22% in Indonesia and 58% in Indonesia). In these countries, Italy's exports in 2010 have shown strong growth.

On the other hand, demand is still weak, especially in the domestic market. Like the entire European Union, Italy’s current economic uncertainty has hindered the recovery of investment, even in the textile industry.

Despite the growth experienced in 2011, Italian machinery manufacturers are still very cautious about this year's outlook. Sandro Salmoiraghi, president of the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), affirmed: “Since last summer, the demand for global textile machinery has slowed down. In the last few months of 2011 and early this year, it has been established that many manufacturers’ new orders have decreased. This is because the current economic situation is very difficult."