Italy Posts €3.5B Trade Surplus in November

The Italian trade surplus widened slightly to €3.5 billion in November of 2014 from €3 billion a year earlier, due to lower energy imports and higher exports.
Istat | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com
1/20/2015 10:29:27 AM
Exports rose 1.7 percent year-on-year to €33.14 billion as sales to countries outside the European Union increased by 2.7 percent and shipments to the EU edged up 1 percent. Sales of capital goods increased the most (6.2 percent), followed by durable goods (2.3 percent) and non-durable (1.7 percent). In contrast, sales of energy products shrank 14.9 percent. 

Imports were flat year-on-year at € 29.5 billion, as increase in purchases of capital goods (10.2 percent) and durable goods (6.8 percent) offset a 19.3 percent decrease in energy purchases. 

On a seasonally adjusted basis, exports decreased by 1.1 percent over October and imports fell 0.1 percent.

Italy Posts €3.5B Trade Surplus in November



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Italy Trade Surplus Largest in Five Months
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €6.0 billion in December 2025, the largest in five months, up from €5.2 billion a year earlier and above expectations of €4.5 billion. Exports rose 4.9% year-on-year to €51.6 billion, driven mainly by higher sales of base metals (+27.8%) and transportation equipment (+25.2%). Shipments increased notably to Switzerland (+41.7%), ASEAN countries (+48.0%), Poland (+18.9%), and France (+5.4%), but declined to Turkey (-17.0%), the UK (-8.7%), and the Netherlands (-9.7%). Meanwhile, imports grew 3.4% to €45.6 billion, reflecting higher purchases of pharmaceuticals (+30.6%), agricultural goods (+21.3%), and base metals (+46.0%). Imports rose primarily from Belgium (+18.7%), Romania (+19.6%), North America (+59.5%), and Central and South America (+32.8%), while falling from Russia (-72.2%) and OPEC countries (-36.5%). For 2025 as a whole, Italy’s trade surplus stood at €50.7 billion, as exports increased 3.3% and imports grew 3.1%.
Published on 2026-02-17

Italy Trade Surplus Largest in Five Months
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €6.0 billion in December 2025, the largest in five months, up from €5.2 billion a year earlier and above expectations of €4.5 billion. Exports rose 4.9% year-on-year to €51.6 billion, driven mainly by higher sales of base metals (+27.8%) and transportation equipment (+25.2%). Shipments increased notably to Switzerland (+41.7%), ASEAN countries (+48.0%), Poland (+18.9%), and France (+5.4%), but declined to Turkey (-17.0%), the UK (-8.7%), and the Netherlands (-9.7%). Meanwhile, imports grew 3.4% to €45.6 billion, reflecting higher purchases of pharmaceuticals (+30.6%), agricultural goods (+21.3%), and base metals (+46.0%). Imports rose primarily from Belgium (+18.7%), Romania (+19.6%), North America (+59.5%), and Central and South America (+32.8%), while falling from Russia (-72.2%) and OPEC countries (-36.5%). For 2025 as a whole, Italy’s trade surplus stood at €50.7 billion, as exports increased 3.3% and imports grew 3.1%.
Published on 2026-02-17

Italy Trade Surplus Largest in Five Months
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €6.0 billion in December 2025 from €5.2 billion in the same month a year earlier, exceeding expectations of €4.5 billion and marking the largest surplus in five months. Exports rose 4.9% year-on-year to €51.6 billion, driven mainly by higher sales of base metals (+27.8%) and transportation equipment (+25.2%). Shipments increased notably to Switzerland (+41.7%), ASEAN countries (+48.0%), Poland (+18.9%), France (+5.4%), and Spain (+8.4%), but declined to Turkey (-17.0%), the UK (-8.7%), and the Netherlands (-9.7%). Meanwhile, imports grew at a slower 3.4% pace to €45.6 billion, reflecting higher purchases of pharmaceuticals (+30.6%), agricultural goods (+21.3%), base metals (+46.0%), and machinery (+14.7%). Imports rose mainly from Belgium (+18.7%), Romania (+19.6%), North America (+59.5%), and Central and South America (+32.8%), while falling from Russia (-72.2%) and OPEC countries (-36.5%).
Published on 2026-02-17

Italy’s Trade Surplus Widens in November
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €5.08 billion in November 2025, up from €3.39 billion a year earlier, slightly below market expectations of €5.2 billion. Exports edged 0.1% lower, weighed down by sharp declines in other manufacturing (-19.7%), refining (-31.3%), electronics (-12.1%), other transportation (-8.2%), and chemicals (-2.5%), partly offset by gains in metals (17.0%), pharmaceuticals (6.1%), machinery (3.2%), and motor vehicles (9.1%). Exports fell to major partners including Turkey (-40.5%), the UK (-16.2%), ASEAN (-21.5%), the US (-2.9%), and the Netherlands (-9.7%), while rising to OPEC (18.9%), Switzerland (12.2%), and Belgium (9.4%). Imports fell 3.5%, driven by lower purchases of pharmaceuticals (-25.6%), crude oil (-39.5%), and natural gas (-17.3%), with declines from OPEC (-34.6%), Belgium (-11.0%), the US (-8.2%), Switzerland (-14.1%), and China (-4.2%).
Published on 2026-01-15

Italy Trade Surplus Narrows Less than Expected
Italy’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 4.16 billion in October 2025 from the EUR 4.62 billion in the same month a year earlier, but it was above market expectations of EUR 3.22 billion, with exports growing less than imports. Exports increased by 2.3% year-on-year to EUR 58.56 billion, supported by higher sales to both EU (+0.5%) and non-EU (+4.1%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals, and botanicals (+18.5%) and basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+13.7%). Among key trading partners, exports grew mostly to Switzerland (+34.9%), the United States (+9.7%), OPEC countries (+15.8%), Spain (+7.3%), and France (+3.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose faster at 3.4% to EUR 54.41 billion, with purchases from non-EU (+4.2%) rising more than EU markets (+2.7%). From January to October, the country’s trade surplus stood at EUR 39.6 billion, largely unchanged from EUR 39.8 billion the same period in 2024.
Published on 2025-12-16

Italy Trade Surplus Narrows Less than Expected
Italy’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 4.16 billion in October 2025 from the EUR 4.62 billion in the same month a year earlier, but it was above market expectations of EUR 3.22 billion, as exports grew less than imports. Exports increased by 2.3% year-on-year to EUR 58.56 billion, supported by higher sales to both EU (+0.5%) and non-EU (+4.1%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals, and botanicals (+18.5%) and basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+13.7%). Among key trading partners, exports grew mostly to Switzerland (+34.9%), the United States (+9.7%), OPEC countries (+15.8%), Spain (+7.3%), and France (+3.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose faster at 3.4% to EUR 54.41 billion, with non-EU (+4.2%) rising more sharply than those from the EU markets (+2.7%).
Published on 2025-12-16

Italy Trade Surplus Narrows Less than Expected
Italy’s trade surplus narrowed to EUR 4.16 billion in October 2025 from the EUR 4.62 billion in the same month a year earlier, but it was above market expectations of EUR 3.22 billion, with exports growing less than imports. Exports increased by 2.3% year-on-year to EUR 58.56 billion, supported by higher sales to both EU (+0.5%) and non-EU (+4.1%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals, and botanicals (+18.5%) and basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+13.7%). Among key trading partners, exports grew mostly to Switzerland (+34.9%), the United States (+9.7%), OPEC countries (+15.8%), Spain (+7.3%), and France (+3.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose faster at 3.4% to EUR 54.41 billion, with non-EU (+4.2%) rising more sharply than those from the EU markets (+2.7%).
Published on 2025-12-16

Italy Trade Surplus Widens Less than Expected
Italy posted a trade surplus of €2.85 billion in September 2025, below market expectations of €3.2 billion, but widening from the €2.32 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier, as export growth outpaced imports. Exports increased by 10.5% year-on-year to €55.79 billion, supported by strong sales to both EU (+10.2%) and non-EU (+10.9%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, chemical-medicinal products, and botanicals (+39.4%), basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+19.0%), transportation equipment, excluding motor vehicles (+29.6%), machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+7.1%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.9%). Among key trading partners, exports grew most to the US (+34.7%), followed by France (+19.5%) and Spain (+14.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 9.9% to €52.94 billion, with purchases from non-EU markets (+13.7%) rising more sharply than those from the EU (+7.2%).
Published on 2025-11-14

Italy Trade Surplus Widens Less than Expected
Italy posted a trade surplus of €2.85 billion in September 2025, below market expectations of €3.2 billion, but widening from the €2.32 billion surplus in the same month a year earlier, as export growth outpaced imports. Exports increased by 10.5% year-on-year to €55.79 billion, supported by strong sales to both EU (+10.2%) and non-EU (+10.9%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, chemical-medicinal products, and botanicals (+39.4%), basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+19.0%), transportation equipment, excluding motor vehicles (+29.6%), machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+7.1%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.9%). Among key trading partners, exports grew most to the US (+34.7%), followed by France (+19.5%) and Spain (+14.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 9.9% to €52.94 billion, with purchases from non-EU markets (+13.7%) rising more sharply than those from the EU (+7.2%).
Published on 2025-11-14

Italy Trade Surplus Expands in September
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €2.85 billion in September 2025 from €2.32 billion in the same month last year, although missing market expectations of €3.2 billion, as export growth outpaced imports. Exports increased by 10.5% year-on-year to €55.79 billion, supported by strong sales to both EU (+10.2%) and non-EU (+10.9%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, chemical-medicinal products, and botanicals (+39.4%), basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+19.0%), transportation equipment, excluding motor vehicles (+29.6%), machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+7.1%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.9%). Among key trading partners, exports grew most to the US (+34.7%), followed by France (+19.5%) and Spain (+14.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 9.9% to €52.94 billion, with purchases from non-EU markets (+13.7%) rising more sharply than those from the EU (+7.2%).
Published on 2025-11-14

Italy Trade Surplus Expands in September
Italy’s trade surplus widened to €2.85 billion in September 2025 from €2.32 billion in the same month a year earlier, although missing market expectations of €3.2 billion, as export growth outpaced imports. Exports increased by 10.5% year-on-year to €55.79 billion, supported by strong sales to both EU (+10.2%) and non-EU (+10.9%) markets. The sectors contributing most to the growth were pharmaceuticals, chemical-medicinal products, and botanicals (+39.4%), basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (+19.0%), transportation equipment, excluding motor vehicles (+29.6%), machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+7.1%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.9%). Among key trading partners, exports grew most to the US (+34.7%), followed by France (+19.5%) and Spain (+14.7%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 9.9% to €52.94 billion, with purchases from non-EU markets (+13.7%) rising more sharply than those from the EU (+7.2%).
Published on 2025-11-14

Italy Trade Surplus Widens in August
Italy’s trade surplus expanded to €2.0 billion in August 2025 from €1.3 billion in the same month last year, but it was below expectations of €7.55 billion, with exports falling less than imports. Exports decreased by 1.1% year-on-year to €38.7 billion due to lower sales to non-EU markets (-7.0%), which offset the increase in shipments to the EU (+5.4%). The main sectors dragging down exports were machinery and equipment n.e.c. (-5.6%); sporting goods, games, musical instruments, precious metals, medical instruments, and other n.e.c. products (-19.8%); and leather goods (excluding clothing) and similar products (-9.5%). By destination, exports dropped sharply to the US (-21.1%), Turkey (-25.9%), and China (-16.3%). Meanwhile, imports declined by 4.1% to €36.6 billion amid reduced purchases from both EU (-3.0%) and non-EU (-2.9%) markets. For the January–August period, the country’s trade surplus narrowed to €32.7 billion from €37.3 billion in the same period of the previous year.
Published on 2025-10-16

Italy Trade Surplus Widens in August
Italy’s trade surplus expanded to €2.0 billion in August 2025 from €1.3 billion in the same month last year, but it was below expectations of €7.55 billion, as exports dropped less than imports. Exports decreased by 1.1% year-on-year to €38.7 billion due to lower sales to non-EU markets (-7.0%), which offset the increase in shipments to the EU (+5.4%). The main sectors dragging down exports were machinery and equipment n.e.c. (-5.6%); sporting goods, games, musical instruments, precious metals, medical instruments, and other n.e.c. products (-19.8%); and leather goods (excluding clothing) and similar products (-9.5%). By destination, exports fell sharply to the US (-21.1%), Turkey (-25.9%), and China (-16.3%). Meanwhile, imports declined by 4.1% to €36.6 billion, amid reduced purchases from both EU (-3.0%) and non-EU (-2.9%) markets.
Published on 2025-10-16

Italy Trade Surplus Widens in July
Italy posted a trade surplus of €7.9 billion in July 2025, up from €6.8 billion a year earlier,as exports rose faster than imports. Exports grew 7.3% year-on-year to €61.6 billion, driven by higher sales to non-EU (+9.9%) and EU (+4.8%) markets. Strong gains came from transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (+45.6%), pharmaceuticals (+28.5%), base metals (+7.0%), and food, beverages & tobacco (+6.1%). By destination, shipments rose sharply to the US (+24.1%), ASEAN (+37.4%), Spain (+13.8%), UK (+9.0%), France (+4.7%), Switzerland (+9.5%), and Poland (+12.5%), while declines were recorded for the Netherlands (-7.8%), China (-4.0%), and Turkey (-2.5%). Meanwhile, imports increased 6.1%, with non-EU purchases surging 13.1% versus a modest 0.8% rise from the EU. Over January–July 2025, exports rose 2.9% while imports advanced 4.8%, narrowing the trade surplus to €30.7 billion from €36.0 billion last year.
Published on 2025-09-15

Italy Trade Surplus Above Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €7.9 billion in July 2025, up from €6.8 billion a year earlier, above the expected €5.5 billion, as exports rose faster than imports. Exports grew 7.3% year-on-year to €61.6 billion, driven by higher sales to non-EU (+9.9%) and EU (+4.8%) markets. Strong gains came from transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (+45.6%), pharmaceuticals (+28.5%), base metals (+7.0%), and food, beverages & tobacco (+6.1%). By destination, shipments rose sharply to the US (+24.1%), ASEAN (+37.4%), Spain (+13.8%), UK (+9.0%), France (+4.7%), Switzerland (+9.5%), and Poland (+12.5%), while declines were recorded for the Netherlands (-7.8%), China (-4.0%), and Turkey (-2.5%). Meanwhile, imports increased 6.1%, with non-EU purchases surging 13.1% versus a modest 0.8% rise from the EU. Over January–July 2025, exports rose 2.9% while imports advanced 4.8%, narrowing the trade surplus to €30.7 billion from €36.0 billion last year.
Published on 2025-09-15

Italy Trade Surplus Above Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €7.9 billion in July 2025, up from €6.8 billion a year earlier, above the expected €5.5 billion, as exports rose faster than imports. Exports grew 7.3% year-on-year to €61.6 billion, driven by higher sales to non-EU (+9.9%) and EU (+4.8%) markets. Strong gains came from transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (+45.6%), pharmaceuticals (+28.5%), base metals (+7.0%), and food, beverages & tobacco (+6.1%). By destination, shipments rose sharply to the US (+24.1%), ASEAN (+37.4%), Spain (+13.8%), UK (+9.0%), France (+4.7%), Switzerland (+9.5%), and Poland (+12.5%), while declines were recorded for the Netherlands (-7.8%), China (-4.0%), and Turkey (-2.5%). Meanwhile, imports increased 6.1% to €53.7 billion, with non-EU purchases surging 13.1% versus a modest 0.8% rise from the EU. Over January–July 2025, exports rose 2.9% while imports advanced 4.8%, narrowing the trade surplus to €30.7 billion from €36.0 billion last year.
Published on 2025-09-15

Italy Trade Surplus Widens, Still Misses Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €5.41 billion in June 2025, larger than €5.15 billion in the same month of the previous year, though below the expected €7.12 billion. Exports rose by 4.9% year-on-year to €54.4 billion, with shipments increasing from the EU (4.6%) and non-EU countries (5.2%). Meanwhile, imports grew by 4.8% to €49 billion, driven mainly by a 10.1% surge in sales to non-EU countries, which outpaced a modest 1.2% increase in exports to EU countries.
Published on 2025-08-11

Italy Trade Surplus Widens, Still Misses Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €5.41 billion in June 2025, larger than €5.15 billion in the same month of the previous year, though below the expected €7.12 billion. Exports rose by 4.9% year-on-year to €54.4 billion, with shipments increasing from the EU (4.6%), notably Spain (+12%) and France (+6.7%), alongside non-EU countries (5.2%), of which the US (+10.3%), the UK (+10.1%) and Switzerland (+18.4%). The biggest positive contributions came from pharmaceuticals, chemical-medicinal products, and botanicals (+39.0%), transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (+15.9%); food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.0%), and electrical appliances (+3.5%). Meanwhile, imports grew by 4.8% to €49 billion, driven mainly by a 10.1% surge in sales to non-EU countries, especially the US (+45.7%), China (+25.8%) and Turkey (+10.6%) which outpaced a modest 1.2% increase in exports to EU countries.
Published on 2025-08-11

Italy Trade Surplus Widens, Still Misses Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €5.41 billion in June 2025, larger than €5.15 billion a year ago but below forecasts of €7.12 billion. Exports rose by 4.9% yoy to €54.4 billion, with shipments increasing from the EU (4.6%), notably Spain (+12%) and France (+6.7%), alongside non-EU countries (5.2%), of which the US (+10.3%), the UK (+10.1%) and Switzerland (+18.4%). Strong growth was seen in sales of pharmaceuticals and related products (+39.0%), transportation equipment excluding motor vehicles (+15.9%); food, beverages, and tobacco (+6.0%), and electrical appliances (+3.5%). Meanwhile, imports grew by 4.8% to €49 billion, driven mainly by a 10.1% surge in purchases to non-EU countries, especially the US (+45.7%), China (+25.8%) and Turkey (+10.6%) which outpaced a 1.2% increase in imports to EU countries. The biggest increases were seen for pharmaceuticals and related products (+29.1%) and electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply (+49.1%).
Published on 2025-08-11

Italy Trade Surplus Widens, Still Misses Forecasts
Italy posted a trade surplus of €5.41 billion in June 2025, larger than €5.15 billion in the same month of the previous year, though below the expected €7.12 billion. Exports rose by 4.9% year-on-year to €54.4 billion, with shipments increasing from the EU (4.6%), notably Spain (+12%) and France (+6.7%), alongside non-EU countries (5.2%), of which the US (+10.3%), the UK (+10.1%) and Switzerland (+18.4%). Meanwhile, imports grew by 4.8% to €49 billion, driven mainly by a 10.1% surge in sales to non-EU countries, which outpaced a modest 1.2% increase in exports to EU countries.
Published on 2025-08-11