Italy’s export market experienced healthy growth during 2017, shipping USD 503.6 billion worth of goods worldwide; approximately 3.2% of total global exports. Of this figure, 63.7% of exports went to other European countries, while 17.1% of goods were exported to Asia and 10.9% to North America.
China increased their spending with Italy by 24.6% over 2016, while Russia followed suit with an increase of 21.6%. Substantial gains we also made in Turkey and Spain.
The top 10 importers of Italian products during 2017 are listed below, along with the value of goods purchased and the percentage of the overall market this represents:-
- Germany US$ 62.9 billion (12.4%)
- France US$ 51.9 billion (10.3%)
- United States US$ 45.8 billion (9%)
- Spain US$ 26.1 billion (5.2%)
- United Kingdom US$ 26.0 billion (5.1%)
- Switzerland US$ 23.4 billion (4.6%)
- China US$ 15.3 billion (3%)
- Belgium US$ 15.2 billion (3%)
- Poland US$ 14.2 billion (2.8%)
- Netherlands US$ 11.8 billion (2.3%)
Exports make up 31.8% of Italian GDP, and in 2017 exports were up 9.7% as compared to 2016. Topping the list of exported goods was technology including computers, followed by vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastic and plastic articles, and finally iron and steel articles. These stand as the biggest contributing products with food arguably being the most surprising category to fail in making the cut.
