Italian Textile Machinery Orders Show Quarterly Recovery Despite Annual Decline in Q2 2026

Domestic demand weakens year-on-year, while international orders and quarter-on-quarter growth provide positive momentum for the second half of 2026.

Italian textile machinery manufacturers recorded mixed order trends during the second quarter of 2026, with total order intake declining slightly compared to the same period last year but showing a strong recovery over the previous quarter. The latest order index highlights weaker domestic demand alongside continued resilience in international markets, where the majority of orders originate.

Between April and June 2026, Italian textile machinery manufacturers reported mixed order trends, with signs of recovery emerging as the year progresses.

The order index at constant prices reached 46.6 points (2021=100), representing a 3% decrease compared to the second quarter of 2025. The decline was primarily driven by weaker demand in the domestic market, where orders fell 25% year-on-year.

For the first six months of 2026, total orders declined 4% compared to the first half of 2025. The reduction was divided between an 11% decline in Italy and a 3% decrease in international markets.

However, the quarter-on-quarter comparison presented a different trend. Compared with the first quarter of 2026 (January–March), total order intake increased 25%, supported by stronger demand in both domestic and overseas markets. Domestic orders rose 39%, while international orders increased 23% over the previous quarter.

On the production side, companies reported a backlog sufficient to guarantee approximately 3.5 months of production. The capacity utilisation rate during the period stood at 79.7%.

A sector-wise comparison with the first quarter of 2026 showed that domestic market orders either remained stable or increased across all production segments, with particularly strong growth recorded in the spinning and weaving sectors.

International markets also recorded positive momentum, especially across the weaving, knitting, and finishing segments.

Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2026, manufacturers expect production volumes to remain broadly stable. While businesses remain cautious regarding the domestic market, expectations for international markets are balanced between anticipated increases and decreases in demand.

Commenting on the latest figures, Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT, said:

“Despite the international uncertainty, it is comforting that the indicator, albeit slightly, is positive in the foreign market, given that about 80% of our order intake comes from international countries. The context of the domestic market is different, as it suffers both from comparison with a positive second quarter of 2025 and from the new 2026-2028 hyper-depreciation incentive launched in June, whose effects are not yet visible in terms of investments.”