The Italian textile machinery industry expects good demand from China at ITMA Asia + CITME 2024

ITMA ASIA + CITME show has always been the main showcase for textile machinery manufacturers in Asia, that absorbs over 50% of global exports. Moreover China is the world’s largest market in the sector (the value of imported textile machinery in 2023 was around 2.6 billion euro).

For Italian manufacturers as well, the Chinese market is the top foreign destination. In 2023, Italian sales to China amounted to 222 million euro. In the first six months of this year, exports to China increased by 38%, while the performance of total Italian exports declined slightly in the same period.

“We hope that the recovery of the Chinese market, observed in this first half of the year, may be an early indication of a more general upturn in global demand for machinery,” says ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè. Over the past few years, demand from Chinese companies has turned to technologies that combine savings in production costs and environmental friendliness, as also demanded by brands and end consumers. “Today, Italian manufacturers can offer highly customized solutions that are particularly suited to making textile production more sustainable,” confirms Salvadè. “The Chinese textile machinery market is rapidly evolving, and the level of innovation in the technology requested has risen due to the growing international competition that even Chinese companies face. In Shanghai, Italian manufacturers will display their latest innovations, essential for making textile production more efficient and sustainable.”

For his part, Augusto Di Giacinto, Director of IT A Shanghai, states that, "ITMA ASIA + CITME is. the leading textile machinery exhibition in China. As a government agency, the Italian Trade Agency always in partnership with AC/MIT has supported Italian companies to participate in the exhibition for many consecutive sessions. The Italian textile machinery industry will showcase the most advanced Italian manufacturing technologies, with focus on digitalization and sustainability. Data shows that in the first half of this year, Italian textile machinery exports to China showed a significant growth momentum, which is a positive signal. I believe that the Italian-Chinese textile machinery trade will continue to maintain a good development momentum next year."

ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) represents an industrial sector that comprises roughly 300 manufacturers (employing around 13,000 people), which produce machinery for a turnover worth of around 2.3 billion euro, of which 86% are exported. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability and quality are the hallmarks that have made Italian textile machinery worldwide leaders.