In March 2013, compared to the previous month, exports to non-EU countries grew by 2%, while imports decreased by 2,4%. The Istat detects it. On a trend basis, exports fell by 1,3%, while imports fell by 15%.
The cyclical growth of exports is spread to all the main groupings of goods, with the exception of energy (-16,5%). On the import side, the decline affects all the main sectors, with the exception of consumer goods (+4%). The reduction is particularly marked for energy (-7,7%).
In the first quarter of 2013, the economic trend of exports is slightly positive (+0,5%), supported by the growth of consumer goods (+3,6%) and intermediate products (+1,9%). The decrease in purchases from abroad (-3,3%) was significantly affected by the sharp decrease in energy imports (-9,5%).
In March 2013, the decrease in exports compared to the same month of 2012 (-1,3%) involved all the main sectors, with the exception of consumer goods (+7,4%). For energy, there was a marked decrease on a trend basis (-25,4%).
Imports recorded a marked and widespread downward trend (-15%), with particularly significant drops for energy (-26,4%) and capital goods (-18,3%). Only the purchases of non-durable consumer goods (+1,3%) went against the trend. In March 2013, the trade surplus with non-EU countries amounted to +2,6 billion euros, compared to the surplus of 491 million in the same month of 2012.
