ITMA ASIA + CITME: 170 ACIMIT members participate at ITMA, Shanghai
Write:
Eleazar [2011-05-20]
At the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibit, set to open its doors on July 27 in the trade fair district of Pudong, Shanghai, Italian textile machinery manufacturers will make up one of the largest foreign delegations, with 170 exhibitors occupying an overall surface area of 7,000 square meters.
“ITMA ASIA +CITME is the most important trade fair event for the global textile machinery industry in 2008” emphasizes Paolo Banfi, President of ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers). “Asia by now represents over 50% of the world’s demand for textile machinery. Imports to the area have reached a value of 8.6 billion Euros, with China and India, Asia’s two largest markets, by themselves absorbing all of 32% of global imports for the industry. These figures bear witness to the importance of this event and the expectations of all exhibiting manufacturers for the success of this first edition of ITMA Asia + CITME held in Chinese territory.”
“For Italian textile machinery builders,” continues Banfi “exports to Asia in 2007 represented fully 43% of foreign sales, for overall revenues of 793 million Euros. China is the major foreign destination for Italy’s textile machinery products, with India coming in third.” Italian export figures for the first quarter of 2008 are largely encouraging at the eve of the exhibit’s opening in Shanghai. Over the first three months of 2008, Italian manufacturers recorded a 4% growth in exports directed to Asia, compared to the same period for 2007. The increase in Italian exports to China was roughly 8%, and 4% for India.
“Asia’s textile/garments sector must also face up to a new, disturbing situation,” concludes ACIMIT’s president, “with rising prices for primary materials, increases in production costs, and falling Western consumer markets. To remain competitive, they’ll need to raise the quality level of their products. Italian technology on show at Shanghai will be capable of satisfying this need.”
Among the innovations at ITMA ASIA + CITME are the national clusters. 76 Italian companies will be exhibiting their products at the Italian Clusters, organized by ACIMIT, Italian Institute for Foreign Trade and Ministry for Economic Development. The three Italian Clusters will be located in the spinning (W2), weaving (E6), and finishing machinery (E1) pavilions.
ACIMIT has also scheduled a press conference during the event, organized in collaboration with Italian Institute for Foreign Trade and the Ministry for Economic Development. The press conference, to be held on July 28 in the trade fair area, will provide an opportunity to present Italy’s participants in the exhibition, as well as defining the current economic situation for the Italian textile machinery industry.