Italian Machinery Workshop Opens in Ulaanbaatar

From June 21 to 23, 2026, thirteen Italian textile machinery manufacturers gathered in Ulaanbaatar for a technology workshop organised by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) and the Italian Trade Agency. The event aimed to strengthen industrial ties between Italy and Mongolia and to accelerate the modernisation of Mongolia's textile sector, with a focus on cashmere and wool processing, spinning, finishing, and sustainable production.

Italy's expertise in cashmere and wool transformation has made it a natural partner for Mongolia, the world's second-largest cashmere producer. The workshop, held with support from the Italian Embassy in Mongolia, featured companies including Biancalani, Bianco, Color Service, Cormatex, Fadis, Lawer, Mesdan, Cosmatex, Pinter Caipo Italia, Proxima, Stalam, Tecnomeccanica Biellese, and Ugolini. They presented advanced machinery tailored to high-value niche markets.

ACIMIT data underlines Mongolia's growing importance for Italian machinery exports. Spinning technologies represent 35% of total Italian shipments to the country, followed by laundry machinery (21%), accessories (19%), finishing equipment (14%), and weaving machinery (11%). The workshop also served as a prelude to the larger Italian presence planned at ITMA Hannover 2027, the world's leading textile machinery fair.

Why Italian Technology is a Strategic Fit for Mongolia's Cashmere Industry

Mongolia's Cashmere: From Raw Fibre to High-Value Exports

Mongolia produces about 40% of the world's raw cashmere, yet much of it is exported unprocessed or semi-processed. The government aims to expand domestic processing, and Italian technology is well suited to that goal. Italian manufacturers have a long track record with luxury fibres, offering flexible and highly customised solutions that can handle the delicate nature of cashmere without damaging its quality. By upgrading spinning and finishing capabilities, Mongolian mills could capture more of the value chain and command higher prices in international markets.

What Italy Brings: Spinning, Finishing, and Sustainability

The demand breakdown revealed by ACIMIT reflects the practical needs of Mongolian operators. Spinning machinery dominates because it is the critical first step in transforming raw fibre into yarn. Laundry and finishing equipment indicate a desire to move beyond commodity output toward finished, ready-to-wear fabrics. Accessories and supplementary devices also feature strongly, suggesting a holistic upgrade rather than piecemeal purchases. Italian manufacturers' ability to deliver energy-efficient and water-saving systems aligns with the sustainability pressures now shaping the global textile trade.

A Road to ITMA 2027 and Beyond

The Ulaanbaatar workshop is not a one-off. ACIMIT explicitly framed it as part of a broader promotional push leading to ITMA 2027 in Hannover, where Italian companies will be among the largest national exhibitors. For the Mongolian market, this signals a sustained partnership rather than a brief sales mission. The early engagement gives Italian firms a chance to understand local conditions, build relationships, and tailor their offerings well before the international spotlight of the trade fair. The result could be a more durable supply of Italian equipment into a market that, though small, shows steady growth and high strategic value.

What Mongolian Mills and Italian Manufacturers Should Do Next

For Mongolian textile operators:

  • Focus on spinning and finishing upgrades first: Italian exports to Mongolia already show 49% of machinery is for spinning (35%) and finishing (14%), mirroring the steps that add the most value to cashmere.
  • Use the workshop connections to request trials or demonstrations of machinery specifically tuned for cashmere—gentle fibre opening, low-tension spinning, and soft-finishing technologies.
  • Plan capital expenditure around the timeline of ITMA 2027, where you can see the widest range of Italian innovations and negotiate deals with the benefit of earlier local contacts.

For Italian machinery manufacturers:

  • Convert workshop leads into concrete proposals by emphasising after-sales support, training, and maintenance; Mongolian mills may need assurance that highly technical equipment can be serviced locally or quickly.
  • Highlight energy and water savings in your value proposition—sustainability-linked features are increasingly a purchasing criterion for fibre processors seeking international certifications.
  • Use the time before ITMA 2027 to build reference installations in Mongolia; successful case studies will strengthen credibility across the entire cashmere-producing belt of central Asia.