In 2023 the overall production of Prato fabrics fell in volume by -4.3% (export -8.1% in values compared to 2022), also due to the last quarter with the production bottlenecks generated by the consequences of the flood November 2, but the disaster was especially affected by the first quarter of 2024, which in comparison with the same period of the previous year recorded -10.9% in production volumes and -11.9% in the value of exports.
This was announced by Confindustria Toscana Nord and Consorzio Pratotrade, in view of the Milano Unica and Première Vision fabric fairs in Paris, in which Prato companies are participating. Regarding the export of Prato fabrics, a note explains, also in 2023 the first foreign outlet markets in terms of importance were European Community countries: still in first place Spain with 14.6% of the total (even if down -3.2% on 2022); second France (conversely up +6.9%, thus covering 9% of 2023 exports); third Romania (-2.1%, with a share of 7.9%), a country where packaging operations are also carried out on behalf of companies from other countries. Followed by Germany, Morocco, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Turkey. There are 230 companies in Prato producing fabrics (warp, knit, jacquard, special, technical, coated, velvet, pile and others) with over 4,500 direct employees.
The latest available data estimates a turnover of more than 2 billion euros for these companies: a large part (around 70%) can be attributed to exports, which in 2022 amounted to 1.38 billion euros (+20% on 2021). For Prato companies, pay attention to Milano Unica, from 9 to 11 July, with 118 exhibitors, compared to 95 in the corresponding edition of 2023 and 101 in January 2024. Instead, there are 18 (against, respectively, 55 and 20) participants in Première Vision, scheduled in Paris from 2 to 4 July. “Without taking anything away from the large and important Parisian fair and the undoubtedly motivated choices of those who prefer it or place it alongside Milano Unica, it clearly emerges that it is the latter fair that is recognized as more congenial to the connotation that Prato textiles have given themselves – underlines Maurizio Sarti, coordinator of the Fabric Producers group of the Fashion System section of Confindustria Toscana Nord, as well as member of the Presidency Committee of Milano Unica -. Programmatically, Milano Unica intends to become the point of reference for quality textiles in the world”.
