PRATO – The flood had a heavy impact on the Prato textile system. Confindustria Toscana Nord estimates a drop in production of 10.9% and exports of 11.9% in the first three months of 2024.
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 by -3.2% on 2022); second France (conversely up by +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 (weft, warp, knitted, jacquard, special, technical, coated, velvet, pile and others) with over 4,500 direct employees. The latest available data estimate that these companies have a turnover of more than 2 billion euros: a large part (about 70%) is attributable 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.
