In Argentina and Brazil, the potential Untapped Italian exports exceed one billion eurosConfindustria has quantified this, having also estimated that with the EU-Mercosur agreement in full force there is a projection of further growth of 7 billion. This will be the focus of the mission of Confindustria and ICE (Italian Foreign Trade Institute) in Argentina and Brazil, scheduled for September 7-11: five days of work in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Brasilia, with B2B and institutional meetings designed to generate new partnership opportunities with selected local market counterparts and buyers.
The mission will be led by President Emanuele Orsini
The mission will also be attended by the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini, and over a hundred Italian companies, particularly those in the agri-food, pharmaceutical and medical, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure, industrial machinery and plant engineering, and digital sectors. The entry into force of the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement therefore creates the conditions for a progressive reduction of duties, greater openness of public procurement and new opportunities for integration into local production chains.
In 2025 Italian exports to the Mercosur area reached 7,5 billion
Presiding over Mercosur now, says Confindustria, means gain competitiveness when the agreement takes full effect"Now is the time to position yourself," the Italian Industrialists' Association wrote on its communications channels. Argentina and Brazil, the continent's two largest economies, are particularly promising markets for Italian exports. In 2025, Italian exports to the Mercosur area reached 7,5 billion, with an average annual growth of 7% towards Argentina and 6% towards Brazil in the period 2021-2025.
One month after the EU-Mercosur agreement came into force, exports rose by 21%.
Supporting this dynamic is also a deeply rooted Italian industrial presenceIn Brazil, there are approximately 1400 Italian-owned companies, employing 150.000 people and generating €42 billion in revenue. In Argentina, there are approximately 300 Italian companies, with 25.000 employees and approximately €2 billion in revenue. This is the basis for the the EU-Mercosur agreement, which has already begun to produce concrete effects. For example: in May 2026, the first month of the agreement's validity, Italian exports to the area grew by 21,1% compared to the same month in 2025.
The agreement will also benefit importers by eliminating duties
At full capacity, the potential is even greater: Italian exports could go from 7,5 to 14 billion euros, or almost double. Italian importers will also benefit from the agreement, experiencing significant savings on duties paid. The most significant opportunities concern several strategic sectors: agri-food; machinery and plant engineering; pharmaceuticals and medical; digital technologies; energy transition and sustainable infrastructure. It is within this context that the first business mission to Latin America, led by Confindustria President Emanuele Orsini, takes place.
