Itàlia: Visió econòmica i política
Italy has an export-oriented economy and is the 8th largest exporter and 12th largest importer worldwide, with trade making up 66% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). In 2023, the country’s main exports included machinery (16.1% of the total), transport equipment (10.8%), textiles and metal products (10.4% each), and pharmaceutical products (7.8%), whereas imports were led by petroleum and gas (11%), transport equipment (10.6%), metal products (10.5% each), food and beverage (7.3% each), and machinery (7.2% - data ISTAT for 2023). According to the latest figures by ISTAT, 14.7% of exports from Italian manufacturing companies came from micro and small enterprises (with 0-19 employees), and 32.2% came from medium-sized enterprises (50-249 employees). More than half (53%) came from large enterprises (more than 250 employees).
Italy’s main trading partners were Germany (11.9%), the U.S. (10.7%), France (10.1%), Spain (5.3%), and Switzerland (4.9%), whereas imports chiefly came from Germany (15.2%), China (8%), France (7.9%), the Netherlands (6.2%), and Spain (5.5%). Overall, the EU accounted for 51.6% of exports and 57% of imports (data 2023 from ISTAT). The stagnation of Italian merchandise exports in 2023 was driven by a decline in sales to EU markets (-2.2%), resulting from a sharp drop in quantities (-6%) despite a rise in average unit values (+4%). At the same time, exports to non-EU markets grew by 2.5%, supported by a significant increase in average unit values (+6.7%) despite a smaller decline in volumes (-3.9%).
Since the sovereign debt crisis in 2010 and after several years of registering a trade deficit, Italy has changed direction and has recorded positive trade balances in recent years (with the exception of 2022 due to a rise in energy prices). According to WTO data, in 2023, the country exported goods worth USD 676.9 billion (+2.7%% year-on-year), while imports decreased by 7.8%, totalling USD 639.6 billion. In the same year, Italy exported services for a total value of USD 145.9 billion, while its imports amounted to USD 157.8 billion (+14.4% and +12.6% year-on-year, respectively). The overall trade balance was estimated to be positive by 1.2% of GDP by the World Bank. Preliminary data from ISTAT show that, in the first nine months of 2024, exports saw a slight annual decline (-0.7%), mainly due to reduced sales of motor vehicles (-13.2%), base metals and metal products (-5.5%), transport equipment excluding motor vehicles (-6.2%), and leather goods (-8.9%). Conversely, significant growth came from food, beverages, and tobacco (+8%), sporting goods, musical instruments, and medical equipment (+17.8%), as well as pharmaceutical and chemical products (+5.8%).
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 475,006 | 426,867 | 567,421 | 694,305 | 639,630 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 537,718 | 499,792 | 615,635 | 658,557 | 676,963 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 122,902 | 94,672 | 114,373 | 140,068 | 157,822 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 122,421 | 85,350 | 103,526 | 127,452 | 145,897 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 58.7 | 53.9 | 60.3 | 72.1 | 66.2 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | 67,887 | 78,588 | 57,963 | -20,617 | 36,709 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | 67,358 | 69,266 | 46,497 | -32,685 | 29,796 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | -1.1 | -12.5 | 16.0 | 13.2 | -0.4 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 1.2 | -13.7 | 14.1 | 9.8 | 0.8 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 27.7 | 25.2 | 29.1 | 36.9 | 32.5 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 30.9 | 28.7 | 31.2 | 35.1 | 33.7 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | -0.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
Germany | 11.9% |
United States | 10.7% |
France | 10.1% |
Spain | 5.3% |
Switzerland | 4.9% |
United Kingdom | 4.2% |
Poland | 3.2% |
Belgium | 3.1% |
China | 3.1% |
Netherlands | 3.0% |
Türkiye | 2.3% |
Austria | 2.3% |
Romania | 1.6% |
Czech Republic | 1.3% |
Japan | 1.3% |
Greece | 1.1% |
South Korea | 1.1% |
United Arab Emirates | 1.1% |
Canada | 1.0% |
Mexico | 1.0% |
See More Countries | 57.1% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
Germany | 15.2% |
China | 8.0% |
France | 7.9% |
Netherlands | 6.2% |
Spain | 5.5% |
Belgium | 4.5% |
United States | 4.3% |
Switzerland | 3.0% |
Poland | 2.7% |
Algeria | 2.4% |
Austria | 2.2% |
Azerbaijan | 2.0% |
Türkiye | 2.0% |
Romania | 1.6% |
Czech Republic | 1.6% |
India | 1.5% |
United Kingdom | 1.5% |
Hungary | 1.4% |
Libya | 1.2% |
Ireland | 1.2% |
See More Countries | 57.3% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
134.6 bn USD of services exported in 2023 | |
41.46% | |
25.86% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 21.05% |
Research and developmentResearch and development | 4.80% |
12.63% | |
7.78% | |
4.87% | |
4.63% | |
1.42% | |
0.76% | |
0.37% | |
0.22% |
149.6 bn USD of services imported in 2023 | |
26.83% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 24.98% |
Research and developmentResearch and development | 1.85% |
22.71% | |
22.16% | |
10.92% | |
8.23% | |
4.02% | |
3.27% | |
1.02% | |
0.78% | |
0.06% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: March 2025
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