Trade flows down in January. Compared to December 2013, according to Istat data, imports decreased by 1,6% while exports decreased by 1,5%. As regards exports, there was a drop in sales both to EU markets (-1,7%) and to non-EU markets (-1,2%). Energy products collapsed (-20,2%).
On the import front, on the other hand, the flow trend is markedly different towards the two main outlet areas: strong contraction in purchases from non-EU countries (-5,3%) and increase in those from EU countries (+1,4 %). The contraction in the purchases of energy products (-5,8%) and capital goods (-3,3%) is significant.
In the annual comparison, exports recorded a very slight growth, equal to 0,2%, the synthesis of an increase towards the EU area (+2,6%) and a decrease towards the non-EU area (-2,7 %). On the other hand, the contraction in imports was very strong: -6,6%. In this case, the decline can be attributed almost exclusively to the non-EU area (-11,9%).
