Italian textile machinery order intake rises 214% in Q2 2021: ACIMIT

The value of the index was attested at 150.7 points (basis: 2015 = 100), a result that was no doubt influenced by the comparison with a quarter (April-June 2020) in which orders were obviously at a minimum, due to the pandemic, ACIMIT said in a media release.

Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT, said: "The data is certainly positive, bearing witness to a renewed climate of confidence.”

On the domestic market, in addition to a physiological rebound following the collapse in 2020, the boost generated by 4.0 incentives is being felt. "The push towards digitalisation in the business sector is being perceived as creating a competitive edge for the entire textile industry, especially here in Italy,” added Zucchi.

In spite of these encouraging signals, a sense of uncertainty persists on the actual solidity of this recovery. “There are many obstacles facing our machinery producers during this phase,” stated ACIMIT’s president. “The sharp rise in the price of raw materials does not seem to be stopping, to which we can add the limited availability of components, making it difficult for our manufacturers to fulfil the many orders they’ve received. Finally, the limitations imposed on the business travels of our staff persist, above all qualified assembly technicians.”

These issues are affecting the sector's order forecasts for the third quarter of 2021. To this end, ACIMIT’s survey has revealed a substantial stability compared to the previous three months for domestic orders (as expressed by 59 per cent of companies).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)