The first half of 2021 closed positively for Piedmont. Exports from industrial districts increased by 21% compared to the same period of 2020 (+27,6% the national average). All sectors are growing, except for Vercelli rice. This was revealed by the usual Monitor of Intesa Sanpaolo according to which 8 out of 12 districts have already exceeded the revenue levels of the same period of 2019, even before the outbreak of the pandemic.
THEAgribusiness continues its run that began in 2020 and which in the first half of the year almost grew by 19%. Four districts out of five recorded brilliant results: Piedmontese hazelnuts and fruit (+50,3%), supported by the sharp increase in exports to Germany, Poland and France; Wines from the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato recorded a rebound of 20,2%, Sweets from Alba and Cuneo also did very well (+18,2%), thanks above all to bakery and flour products (+39,9); Coffee, confectionery and Turin chocolate (+10,9%). The only flop is that of Vercelli rice which is down by 7,6%, due to the return of Southeast Asia to the markets of Northern Europe, while in 2020 it had been blocked by the pandemic crisis.
The performance of the small household district of Omegna, the only representative of the home system in Piedmont, was also very positive, with a leap of 66,5%.
The performance of the Mechanics (+24%) compared to the first half of 2020, but still far from the levels of 2019. Only the Taps and Fittings of Cusio-Valsesia managed to exceed the exports of the first half of 2019 (+4,2%); while the textile machines of Biella have returned to pre-Covid levels. On the other hand, the industrial refrigerators of Casale Monferrato (-19,2%) and the machine tools and industrial robots of Turin (-24,4%) are lagging behind.
While Fashion is on the rise by 22,5% compared to the first half of 2020%, thanks to the growth of some districts: the Jewelery of Valenza (+35,7%), the Textile of Biella was the protagonist of a double-digit rebound (+12,6%). More generally, positive signals come from the recovery in world demand for gold jewelery (+54% in the first quarter and +60% in the second quarter of 2021). Among the main outlet markets, exports increased to China, France, Hong Kong, the United States and Turkey. The sector is still in trouble, penalized by the drop in consumption linked to the pandemic.
Balance in chiaroscuro for the Piedmontese technological poles, where the difference between the Turin ICT hub (+ 22,4%) and the Piedmont aerospace hub, which instead is going through a moment of difficulty linked to the sector and the concentration of foreign sales in a few countries.
Teresio Head, Regional Director of Intesa Sanpaolo Piedmont North, Valle d'Aosta and Sardinia: “A very good result. We are approaching the national district average. In sectors where the economic data are not yet positive, the qualitative trend comforts. In Fashion, a sector that weighs particularly heavily on the overall regional figure, we are witnessing, for example, a recovery in orders and a certain dynamism in mergers and acquisitions between companies. For Aerospace, despite the minus sign, Turin remains the reference territory for new projects. Businesses need to seize the moment and start investing again. Intesa Sanpaolo is ready to multiply the liquidity made available by the PNRR and wants to strengthen the supply chains".
