Although domestic orders appeared to rise, overall orders with the Italian textile machinery sector dropped in the fourth quarter of 2014, primarily from a dip in overseas orders.
In the fourth quarter, overall textile machinery orders slipped 4 per cent over the third quarter of 2014, although domestic orders surged 34 per cent over the previous quarter, but reduced 6 per cent in overseas orders.
The value of the overall orders index in the reporting quarter reached 85.0 points when compared with 2010 index base of 100.
While the overseas order index value touched 92.7 points, the domestic orders index value reached 50.8 points.
ACIMIT president Raffaella Carabelli said, “The growth in orders in Italy in the last quarter of 2014 appears to be a good sign for 2015, during which we will reach an apex with ITMA 2015.”
“This climate of greater confidence at a macroeconomic level seems likely to become contagious for various sectors of our economy,” he added.
Carabelli noted, “I am certain that the entire textile industry can benefit from the current global economic trends, referring especially to the weaker European currency and lower interest rates.”
As per updated figures of ITMA 2015, the Milan edition will exceed the 100,000 sq. metre threshold as against 80,000 sq. metre of exhibition space for the 2011 edition in Barcelona.
By end of January, 388 Italian exhibitors had confirmed their commitment to participate in the event, out of a total of 1500 participants.
“Lastly, requests for increased exhibition space already optioned and demands put forward by new exhibitors continue to pile into an already crowded waiting list,” ACIMIT said.
