Italian Textile Machinery Orders Rise 7% in Q3 2026, Driven by Export Demand

International orders increase 8% year-on-year, while domestic demand declines 4% amid continued investment uncertainty

Italian textile machinery manufacturers recorded a 7% year-on-year increase in order intake in the third quarter of 2026, supported by stronger demand from international markets. Export orders rose by 8% compared with the same period in 2025, while the domestic market registered a 4% decline, according to data released by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers.

Quarterly Order Intake Declines 4%

Compared with the second quarter of 2026, overall order intake decreased by 4%, reflecting continued uncertainty affecting investment decisions across the global textile industry.

The textile machinery orders index for July–September 2026 reached 44.6 points, with 2021 serving as the base year (2021 = 100).

Italian textile machinery manufacturers reported an average order backlog equivalent to 3.5 months of production. Capacity utilisation stood at 72.4% during the period.

Domestic and Export Markets Show Mixed Trends

Sector-level data indicated generally stable or declining order trends during the third quarter across both domestic and export markets.

Expectations for the final quarter of 2026 remain cautious, with most companies anticipating that order intake will either remain stable or decline further.

ACIMIT Highlights Export Market Resilience

Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT, commented:

“Despite the widespread caution among manufacturers, fuelled by international uncertainty and rising energy costs, foreign markets continue to provide positive signals. This is particularly encouraging, as exports account for around 80% of the order intake of Italian textile machinery manufacturers.”

He added:

“The domestic market, however, remains subdued. The industry is looking for stronger investment momentum from Italian companies, supported by the incentives available under the Transition 5.0 scheme, which offers improved planning opportunities for industrial investments.”

Outlook for the Textile Machinery Industry

The third-quarter figures indicate that international demand continues to support Italian textile machinery manufacturers, despite subdued domestic investment and a decline in orders compared with the previous quarter. Market uncertainty and rising energy costs remain concerns as companies assess demand for the final quarter of 2026.