Grow the exports from Piedmont's industrial districts which in the first half of 2023 stood at 6,34 billion euros, in del% increase 7,6 compared to the first half of 2022 for 445 million euros. This was revealed by the Monitor of the Districts of Piedmont, managed by the Studies and Research Directorate of Intesa Sanpaolo, which underlines how since the first quarter of 2021 the Piedmontese industrial districts have never stopped growing.
Piedmont exports above the Italian average, the fashion system soars
The exports of the Piedmontese industrial districts achieved greater growth than the average of the Italian districts, both in the entire first half of the year (+7,6% vs. +2,3%), and in the second quarter alone (+3,6, 2,1% vs -14,6%). In the three months of April-June, in particular, Piedmont stood out positively compared to the Italian average also considering the total economy (+1% vs. -15%) and manufacturing alone (+0,9% vs. -XNUMX %), in particular thanks to the strong leap in Automotive and Mechanics.
Speaking in the individual districts, in the first half of 2023 those of the fashion system Piedmont achieved the most intense growth, +11,7% compared to the first half of 2022, thanks to a first quarter of clear recovery (+22%) and a second quarter of slowdown but still positive (+3,8%).
The result was also positive district mechanics (export +6,4%) andagri-food (+5,3%). Overall, 9 districts out of 12 in Piedmont are growing compared to the first half of 2022. The exception is the small district of Housewares from Omegna (negative in both quarters) and the districts of Hazelnut and Piedmontese fruit and Taps and valves of Cusio-Valsesia, both negatively affected by the negative performance of the second quarter.
Target markets
The trend of Piedmontese district exports is good both towards new markets (+12%), driven by China, Türkiye and Romania, both towards mature markets (+5,6%) with Ireland, Germany, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France and Japan in the lead. Among the main commercial outlets for Piedmontese district exports, the most intense export contractions (above 10 million euros) concerned the North America (United States and Canada), Poland and Russia.
The technological districts
Overall, exports from the Piedmontese technological centers in the first half of 2023 increased by 1,7% to 21 million euros. For the Turin ICT hub exports increased by 15%, for a total amount of 61 million euros. The trend was similar in the two quarters: +16,6% in the first and +13,6% in the second.
Il Aerospace pole of Piedmont, however, presents the fluctuating trend typical of the sector, which thrives on large orders: in the first quarter of 2023 it saw a contraction in exports of 63,1%, before returning to growth of 72,7% in the second quarter. Overall, the first half of 2023 was down by 4,9%, for 40 million euros.
Andrea Perusin, regional director of Southern Piedmont and Liguria of Intesa Sanpaolo, comments: “Production specialization and strong competitive capacity have allowed the Piedmontese districts to be less affected by the slowdown in international demand, compared to the average of Italian districts. Quality of goods and flexibility of production will be important levers to give continuity to relations on foreign markets also in the coming months, when the export dynamics of the districts could show a slowdown. Green transition, digitalisation, enhancement of supply chain relationships will remain the key elements in which to invest for growth: evolutions that we are careful to support and which we will continue to support. To date, in this region we have provided approximately 570 million euros of financing aimed at achieving ESG and circular economy objectives and signed 85 supply chain contracts, for a turnover of almost 10 billion euros and 4.100 suppliers involved".
