The index of new orders for Italian textile machinery during October-December 2016, as compiled by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), rose by 5% compared to the same period of the previous year. The value of the index came to 94.2 points (basis: 2010 = 100).
This growth affected both foreign markets, where the index registered an absolute value of 103.4 points (up 5%) and Italy. The increase compared to October-December 2015 was 16%, with an absolute value for the index of 55.7 points.
On an annual basis, the index registered an average increase of 4% (absolute value: 95.2) compared to 2015. Domestic sales were up significantly, rising by fully 14% (absolute index: 55.2) and confirming the vigor of the Italian market. Foreign markets recorded a more contained increase in orders (up 3%, for an absolute value of 104.0).
ACIMIT President Raffaella Carabelli comments on the results, “The data for the index for the last quarter of 2016 confirm a year we can certainly define as positive, with an overall growing order index.”
Data for Italian exports, updated to the first nine months of 2016, confirm a positive trend, with a 3% increase compared to the same period of 2015. The ACIMIT President says, “In spite of our far from brilliant export performance in the world’s three major markets of China, Turkey and India, our sales are nonetheless growing in Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as in North America and Europe.”
The outlook for 2017 appears to be dynamic, despite the current geopolitical uncertainties. With the support of MISE and ICE-Agency, ACIMIT will continue to push forward in promoting internationalization this year, as over twenty countries and markets will be the object of promotional initiatives aimed at the penetration of Italy’s textile machinery sector. Among these initiatives are projects laid out for Sub-Saharan Africa and Iran, both areas in which ACIMIT is insistently promoting activities for growth.