Despite ongoing political and trade restrictions, Iran’s textile machinery manufacturing sector has reached a level of technical maturity that enables it to compete effectively with regional and international players, industry experts say.
Speaking on the sidelines of IranTex 2026, held from January 2–5, Mohsen Raei, Managing Director of Raei Machinery, highlighted the growing competitiveness of Iranian-made textile machinery in both quality and pricing.
Iranian Manufacturers Closing Gaps
“Today, Iranian machinery manufacturers are fully capable of competing with producers from Turkey and China in terms of quality and cost,” Raei stated. “If political conditions allowed smoother export activities, I can confidently say that nearly 99% of domestic manufacturers would be able to compete with Asian producers, and in many cases even outperform European suppliers in pricing and innovation.”
According to Raei, while domestic exhibitions such as IranTex play a vital role in showcasing local manufacturing capabilities and supporting market visibility, they fall short of fully stimulating innovation. He explained that true technological progress requires the active presence of a wide range of international manufacturers displaying fully operational machinery.
“Most foreign companies face significant obstacles when bringing machinery into Iran,” he noted. “As a result, innovation is largely driven by local companies, without the benefit of direct, on-site technological comparison with global competitors.”
Raee emphasized that meaningful innovation emerges in an open and competitive exhibition environment where manufacturers from different countries can present advanced solutions side by side—an opportunity currently limited by external constraints.
Read more: Irantex 2026: A Premier Textile Industry Exhibition in the Iran
Although IranTex 2026 was considered less dynamic compared to previous editions, the exhibition remains one of the few professional platforms enabling interaction between Iran’s textile machinery producers and the broader textile industry. It continues to serve as a key reference point for assessing domestic capabilities and industry trends.
If you attended IranTex 2026, we invite you to share your positive or critical perspectives on the exhibition and the current state of Iran’s textile industry in the comments section. Selected insights may be published.
