In the second quarter of 2016 the export of traditional districts is back in slightly positive territory (+0,2%), in line with the national and German average. Excluding the gold districts, penalized by the weakness of world demand for jewellery, district exports recorded a trend increase of 1,3%. The number of growing districts then rose to 87 (from the low of 73 reached in the first three months of the year), out of a total of 147 districts monitored by Intesa Sanpaolo.
In the spring months, however, it recorded a exports of national technological poles to a halt (-5,7%). For the national hi-tech realities, this is the first negative sign after seven consecutive quarters of growth, all discounting the slowdown of the Lazio pharmaceutical hub. The negative figure of the pharmaceutical sector (-12,6%) contrasts with the positive results of the poles of the biomedical sector (+3,1%), aeronautics (+2,2%) and ICT (+1,5, XNUMX%).
Among the traditional districts have maintained a the areas specializing in the home system are growing at a good pace, where the performance of Sassuolo tiles stands out (+8% the tendential variation in the second quarter) and of the two main Italian wood-furniture poles, Livenza and Quartier del Piave (+4,7%) and Brianza (+4,6%). Also in evidence are the two paper districts (+8,1%), Capannori and, above all, Fabriano, both capable of reaching new historic export records. The mechanical districts then showed slight signs of acceleration, driven again by the packaging machines of Bologna (+12,8%) and by the two Veneto poles of thermomechanics, Padua (+11,6%) and Verona (+9 %).
Furthermore, after the setback in the very first months of the year, the agri-food poles are back to growth, driven by Tuscan oil (+31,9%), coffee, confectionery and Turin chocolate (+34,6%), Conegliano-Valdobbiadene prosecco (+16,3%) and Verona meat (+16,7%) . With the exception of metal products (down by 1,9%), the other district productions showed substantial stability in exported values. In these sectors, however, the dispersion of results is particularly high. In the fashion system, for example, the growth performance of leather goods and footwear in Florence (+6,7%), textiles and clothing in Prato (+6,1%), sports footwear in Montebelluna (+12,3%) stands out. , footwear on the Brenta Riviera (+11,9%). In the same sector, on the other hand, Veronese footwear declines significantly.
At the regional level, the results obtained by Emilia Romagna stand out (+6,6%), where, in a context of almost generalized growth (15 districts grew out of a total of 19 monitored in the region), the tiles from Sassuolo and the packaging machines from Bologna were the driving forces, two best Italian poles for growth in absolute value of exports in the second quarter of 2016. The analysis by outlet market highlights a mixed picture. In fact, Germany has restarted (albeit at a slow pace), growth has consolidated in Spain, sales have finally stabilized in Russia and brilliant results have been obtained in some new markets, such as the Czech Republic, Mexico, Slovenia , Hungary, Poland, Israel and India.
The contribution offered by the United Kingdom was then slightly positive. At the same time, however, they are sales in the Middle East, Brazil and on the Chinese market remained in negative territory. But, above all, the growth of district exports to the United States was interrupted (even if the balance of district exports on this market in the first half-year remains positive and at all-time high levels), where district sales suffered a decline of fashion and mechanics. In the second half of the year, district exports should remain in positive territory, even if the growth rate will remain contained, penalized by a highly uncertain international situation and weak global demand.
In this context, a revival of European demand with economic policies less oriented towards austerity could give new impetus to district exports. In fact, despite the important successes achieved on non-European markets in recent years, about 50% of district exports continue to be directed to the European Union (UK excluded). Among the sectors that could benefit most from it is the agri-food sector. In fact, the six districts with the highest propensity to export to the European market belong to this sector, with peaks of 97% in the case of cured meats from Alto Adige. Followed by the fruit and vegetables of the Agro Pontino, the horticulture of western Liguria, the fruit and vegetables of Catania, the meat of Verona and the agriculture of the Piana del Sele.
The foreign channel, however, alone cannot be enough to revive the growth of the district fabric, especially for those realities with a low propensity to export. A restart of domestic demand can therefore represent a good opportunity for those industrial districts more oriented towards the Italian market. Among these there are districts specialized in various production chains, from the fashion system (such as clothing from Bari and northern Abruzzo), to the home system (wood from Casalasco-Viadanese, Bovolone-style furniture, furniture from the Upper Tiber Valley , kitchens from Pesaro and ceramics from Civita Castellana), to agro-food (oil and pasta from the Bari area and buffalo mozzarella from Campania).
Attachments: INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS MONITOR
