Get better again Italy's trade surplus. According to the latest data released this morning by Istat, in March the foreign surplus achieved by our country reached 4 billion euros, against 3,8 in the same month of 2014. Net of energy, the balance is active for 7,1 billion. In the first quarter of the year the balance reached 7,8 billion (16,4 billion net of energy products).
Compared to the previous month, Istat explains, last March there was growth for both trade flows with foreign countries, larger for the cheap imports (+4%) than for the exports (+ 1,8%).
The cyclical increase in exports it is determined by a growth in sales both to non-EU markets (+2,2%) and to EU ones (+1,5%). Energy products (+8,4%), non-durable consumer goods (+3,2%) and intermediate products (+1,9%) are booming.
The cyclical increase in imports it is mainly to be attributed to the non-EU area (+4,9%). The growth is widespread in all the main groupings of goods and is particularly relevant for energy products (+7,7%) and consumer goods (+5,0%). In the first quarter of 2015, compared to the last quarter of 2014, the positive economic dynamics of exports (+1,2%) can be attributed to the non-EU area (+2,9%). Net of energy products, growth is more sustained (+1,9%); above all capital goods recorded a significant expansion (+4%).
The trend growth of exports (+9,2%) is driven by sales to the non-EU area (+13,2%). Average unit values (+2,8%) and volumes (+6,3%) are both expanding. In the same month, the notable trend increase in imports (+9,7%) is determined by the growth in purchases both from the EU area (+10,1%) and from outside the EU (+9,1%). The strong trend growth for both flows is conditioned by a difference in working days (22 in March 2015 compared to 21 in March 2014). The trend change adjusted for calendar days is +7,8% for exports and +8,4% for imports.
The trend growth of exports is particularly strong for the United States (+44%) and OPEC countries (+18,2%). There was marked growth in the sales of motor vehicles (+28,0%) and means of transport, excluding motor vehicles (+23,8%). Purchases from China (+51,9%) and those of sporting goods, games, musical instruments, jewels, medical instruments and other products (+28,5%) are growing strongly.
