Having archived a 2012 of substantial stability for exports from the traditional Lombard districts, penalized by the weakness of the two central quarters, 2013 opened with a subdued performance: the trend contraction was 1,7% in the first quarter, at current values, for an export value of 4.677 million euros.
This is the picture that emerged from the latest update of the Lombardy District Monitor, prepared by the Intesa Sanpaolo Studies and Research Service on the basis of data from the first quarter of 2013. The drop in direct sales in mature markets can be identified as the origin of the decline particularly in Germany and France (which together absorb about 30% of the total exports of the regional districts), only partially offset by the growth of exports in the new markets: among which, by value of exports, China, Turkey and Romania stand out. However, some mature markets, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have remained the driving force.
Among the districts that, in contrast, achieved the most brilliant performances in the first three months of the year, there are some districts of the metalworking supply chain: +15,6% for exports of textile and plastics machinery in Bergamo ( where the importance of the Turkish market and the sustained growth of the Chinese market are noted), +10,7% for mechanical engineering in the Brescia area (where China is now the leading market), +5,8% for machinery for leather tanning in Vigevano, +1,4% for metalworking in Lecco (the United Kingdom's contribution is decisive) and +1,1% for taps and cookware in Lumezzane (thanks to the driving force of the Russian market).
In the agri-food chain, three districts recorded positive results in terms of exports: rice from Pavia (+7,1%), dairy from Lombardy (+6,8%) and Franciacorta wines (+4,4 %). Lastly, the remaining well-performing districts include the silk-textile sector of Como (+3,2%), where even mature markets such as France and Spain have proved to be driving forces, and the wood and furniture sector of Brianza (+2,9 %), where there was strong support from the US and Russian markets.
2013 opened with declining exports also for the technological poles of the region: the contraction was 3,8%, at current values, for a total of exports equal to 1.952,2 million. The difficulties affecting the Milanese pharmaceutical and information technology supply chain continue to weigh. The number of hours of Redundancy Funds grew in the first five months of 2013, both in the traditional districts (+9,3%) and in the technological hubs (+40,8%), reaching respectively 37,4 million and 3,9 .XNUMX million authorized hours.
Increases incurred in correspondence with the Extraordinary Cash, which implies situations of structural crisis, and with the Ordinary Cash, more linked to the trend of the economic cycle.
