Despite the rise in raw material prices and the explosion in energy costs, according to the data processed by Study Center of the Textile and Fashion Federation in the first three months of this year Italian textile production recorded a tendential increase of +34,3%.
Growing exports for Textiles and Fashion
Sector exports grow by double digits (+46,2%)driven by foreign sales of the wool sector (+85,1%), especially to France, Germany and the Iberian Peninsula. The balance of trade of the sector thus rises to 292,3 million euros, up by 50,4 million. Furthermore, based on the most recent data available, in April both orthogonal texture be the knit texture show a growth rate in line with that of the first quarter: the former registers a dynamic of +30,3%, the knitwear of +2,6%.
At the same time textile imports from abroad recorded a trend of +65,7% (in the first quarter of 2021 they had decreased by -8,7%). China, Turkey and Pakistan are confirmed as the main suppliers of fabrics for our industrial system, with an overall share close to 60%.
The individual compartments
In detail, the export of wool fabrics (carded and combed) recorded a very strong growth, equal to +85,1%. Similarly also i pure silk fabrics they closed the January-March quarter with a variation of +50,8%. The exports of cotton and linen fabrics show respectively +33,6% and +47,3%. Finally, cross-border sales of knitted fabrics grew by +36,2%.
La weaving made in Italy, archived a negative 2020 (-29,7%), had already changed pace during 2021, where it had achieved growth on an annual basis of +15,2%. The turnover of the sector had thus risen above 6,1 billion euros, with a gain in absolute terms of 808 million. In the same period, the trade balance surplus was 1.768 million, gaining 160 million compared to 2020, but still remaining far from the 2019 surplus.
