With just a few months to go before the next ITMA ASIA + CITME, to be held in Shanghai from July 27 to July 31, 2008, it appears Italy’s textile machinery manufacturers will be among the most numerous and well represented, testifying the Country’s leadership position among textile technology suppliers.

160 Italian exhibitors will be on hand at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008, occupying an overall exhibition area of some 7200 sq. meters; 76 Italian manufacturers will be presenting their products within the Italian Clusters area, organized by ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) and Italian Institute for Foreign Trade. The three Italian Clusters will be located in the spinning pavilion (W2), weaving pavilion (E6) and finishing machinery pavilion (E1). Overall, Italian Clusters will be occupying an area of around 2200 sq. mts.

ACIMIT’s president, Paolo Banfi, declares himself optimistic with respect to the Chinese trade exhibit. “ITMA ASIA + CITME is a merger of two very successful trade fairs, ITMA ASIA and CITME, both well established by now with the Asian public. China, of course, is the world’s largest market for textile machinery: Chinese imports in 2007 exceeded 9 billion US$. This is yet another plus for the success of ITMA ASIA + CITME.”

The number of Italian exhibitors and the surface area they will occupy are by far greater than for the ITMA ASIA 2005 edition. “The response of our manufacturers to the change in location could not be more positive” continues Banfi. “Chinese market represents the primary destination for our foreign sales (360 million euros in 2007, amounting to roughly 19% of total exports). However, the entire Asian continent is a major source of business for Italian machinery manufacturers, absorbing 43% of sales worldwide.”

Over 2007, exports of Italian textile machinery directed to Asian markets reached a value of 793 million euros. Behind China as major trade partners are India (135 million euros), Pakistan (38 million euros) and Iran (34 million euros).

The most required Italian textile machines in Asia are spinning machines (227 million euros, for 28% of the overall total), followed by weaving machines (164 million euros), finishing machines (140 million euros), accessories (125 million euros), and knitting machines (115 million euros).

As usually ACIMIT, in collaboration with Italian Institute for Foreign Trade, has supported Italy’s presence at ITMA ASIA + CITME through its logistical and organizational assistance, in addition to its advertising campaign on major textile industry magazines in the area, and advertising billboards for the trade fair pavilions during the event.