Over the past two years it has become evident that the textile industry is one of the most vulnerable in the Italian economy not just from competition from the rest of Europe, but increasingly from Asia, notably China.
The results of a quarterly production survey conducted by Sistema Moda Italia clearly highlight this trend, showing that textile production activity continued to slow during the first quarter of 2005.
An expected recovery in exports did not materialise and order levels for the all important 2005/06 Autumn/Winter season are subdued.
Although production levels for men's wear during the first quarter of 2005 dropped only moderately year-on-year, new business for the Autumn/Winter season was disappointing.
On the export front order levels also dropped year-on-year, while the fall in the domestic market was less significant.
Similarly, the women's wear segment noted year-on-year declines in demand with orders falling for both the export and domestic markets. The declines in knitwear were less severe for men's and women's knitwear in both markets.
marketing@alchempro.com
