Positive news for Italian textile machinery manufacturers: over the first six months of 2006, Italian exports in the sector exceeded 941 million euros, a 6% increase compared to the first half of 2005.

Sales are on the rise above all in China and India, which, together with Turkey, are the major markets for Italian machinery manufacturers. Indeed, Italian exports to China increased by 29% compared to 2005, for a value of 167 million euros. On the Indian market, where overall revenues for Italian machinery manufacturers exceeded 95 million euros, sales rose by 85% on 2005.

Paolo Banfi, President of ACIMIT, the Association which represents Italian textile machinery manufacturers, shares his satisfaction for this positive moment for Italian exports: “After a few years with negative figures, our exports are now on the rise, thanks mostly to a substantial recovery in investments in many Asian countries. An encouraging note for a sector characterised by a strong level of innovation and a high percentage of sales abroad (almost 80% of total production)”.

Italy’s textile machinery industry numbers approximately 300 manufacturers, with 22,000 workers and an overall annual turnover of 2,532 billion euros.