Orders are on the rise again for the Varese manufacturing sector, which, despite a strong focus on costs, shows encouraging signs in the figures for the first quarter of 2026. The production balance remains positive following the sharp rebound at the end of 2025, whilst the outlook for the second quarter points towards stability.
The economic survey by the Confindustria Varese Research Centre highlights a sector that is essentially healthy and active (the average capacity utilisation rate stands at 74%, down slightly from 76% in the previous quarter), but the global geopolitical landscape leaves no room for dreams or flights of fancy. The most significant figure for the quarter is the improvement in the order book (+32.6 from -13.9 in the fourth quarter of 2025), whilst foreign orders show a balance of +20.9 (from -11.4). Against this backdrop, fashion remains the most fragile sector, both in terms of production and orders.
The fashion sector has, in fact, recorded a negative production balance of -9.8%: 34.8% of firms report an increase, 20.6% report stability and 44.6% report a decrease. Unfortunately, a sharp deterioration is expected for the second quarter: no firm anticipates an increase in production, 45.7% expect stability and 54.3% expect a decline. Orders also remain in negative territory, with 17.2% of companies reporting an increase, 35.8% stability and 47.0% a decline. Foreign orders are also weak: 23.9% increase, 30.2% stability and 45.9% decline.
