After the setback in December, theIstat reported in January a new cyclical increase in theexports from Italy to non-EU countries (+10,1%), mainly driven by the sales of capital goods (+12,1%), consumer durables (+7,3%) and intermediate goods (+4,9%). Conversely, exports of energy (-4,7%) and non-durable goods (-1,0%) decreased.
The data published by Sace underlined that in December, Italy's exports of goods decreased by 1,1% on a monthly basis due to the drop towards non-EU countries (-2,1%), remaining stable towards EU partners. In trend terms, cross-border sales grew by 16,2% in December, thanks in particular to refined products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, metals and metal products. Last year, Italian exports grew by 18,2% compared to 2020, a result higher than expected driven above all by the increases in the prices of raw materials that occurred at the end of the year (+9,1% the dynamics of volumes alone). Italian exports thus reached 516 billion, with marked growth even compared to the pre-crisis levels of 2019 (+7,5%).
Export Italy to the main non-EU countries
Year-on-year increases in exports to most of the main non-EU27 partner countries were noted in January; the broader ones concern USA (+ 38,8%), UK (+ 33,1%) and Russia (+26,7%). Sales to have declined China (-8,9%) And Switzerland (-3,4%). As far as imports are concerned, on the other hand, a cyclical increase of +5,3% is estimated. The growth is mainly determined by the energy sector (+31,8%). Purchases from the United Kingdom (+133,0%), India (+86,8%), Russia (+84,2%), OPEC countries (+68,8%) and China (+62,6%) recorded very high trend increases.
Trade deficit with non-EU countries
However, in January the stronger growth of imports compared to exports translates into a trade balance deficit with non-EU countries, weighed down by dear energy. The trade balance was estimated at -4.174 million, but the energy deficit (-6.433 million) widened significantly compared to twelve months earlier (-2.204 million). The surplus in the trade of non-energy products decreased from 3.978 to 2.259 million.
Export Italy to EU countries
In 2021, sales to EU countries increased by 20%. They finished the year up sharply Netherlands (+ 32,9%), Austria (+ 23,1%), Poland (+ 22,7%) and Spain (+22,5%). At the same time, increases to our top two trading partners have been significant: Germany (+ 19,3%) and France (+ 16,8%).
The main sectors
Last year, the articles of clothing they recorded a large increase in China (+50,5%) and more than appreciable in Germany (+12,9%), closing down instead in the United Kingdom (-18,7%). L'automotive showed increases above the sector average towards Beijing and London (+68,3% and +14% respectively), while the increase was double-digit but more contained for Berlin (+10,7%). The performance of was very positive Electrical devices towards the three markets: China (+40,8%), UK (+30,7%) and Germany (+27,1%).
Industrial groupings
In terms of major groupings of industries, i intermediate goods they closed 2021 with the best performance (+23,7%). The grouping, also benefiting from the increase in prices, contributed by more than 7 percentage points to the growth of overall exports. The sales of capital goods they grew by 15,3% thanks to solid demand conditions which balanced supply difficulties on the supply side. More contained growth but still important for i consumer goods (+12,8%), driven upwards by durable goods (+29,1%). After the drop of 11,9% in 2020, mechanical engineering exceeded pre-crisis levels last year (+14,7%). Among the most lively performances are those of the USA (+23,6%) and Poland (+19,3%). Food and beverage closed the year again with positive results (+11,6%), thanks to the reopening of the hotel sector.
