Italian Textile Machinery Orders Increase in Q3 2026

MILAN— Order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers increased by 7% in the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025. This growth was primarily fueled by demand from international markets, which saw an 8% rise in orders, while the domestic market experienced a 4% decline.

However, compared to the previous quarter, overall order intake decreased by 4%, reflecting ongoing uncertainty affecting investment decisions in the global textile sector. The textile machinery orders index for the July-September period reached 44.6 points (base year 2021 = 100).

Italian manufacturers reported an average order backlog equivalent to 3.5 months of production, with capacity utilization at 72.4%. Sector-specific data indicated that order trends were generally stable or declining across both domestic and export markets.

Looking ahead, expectations for the final quarter of 2026 remain cautious, with most companies anticipating stable or lower levels of order intake. Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT, noted that despite widespread caution among manufacturers due to international uncertainties and rising energy costs, foreign markets continue to show positive signals, which is encouraging given that exports account for around 80% of order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers.

In contrast, the domestic market remains subdued, and the industry is seeking stronger investment momentum from Italian companies, aided by incentives available under the Transition 5.0 scheme to enhance planning opportunities for industrial investments.