Made in Italy products continue to find one of their main growth drivers in international markets. According to the 2025 report by the Confindustria Research Centre entitled “Exporting the Dolce Vita“, exports of so-called “Beautiful and Well Made” (BBF) goods – the medium-to-high end products that characterize Italian manufacturing – are worth approximately €170 billion, equal to over a quarter of the country’s total exports.
BBF is therefore not defined by a single industrial sector, but by a combination of factors: production quality, design, brand recognition, and the symbolic value associated with Made in Italy. This category primarily includes the traditional “3F” sectors – fashion, food, and furniture – alongside other segments such as jewelry, eyewear, and yachting. These are products that manage to maintain significantly higher average prices than their competitors on international markets, thanks to the reputation built over time by Italian industry and its ability to combine craftsmanship, innovation, and style. The BBF segment is therefore not defined by a single industrial sector, but by a set of products characterized by manufacturing quality, design, and Italian brand recognition on international markets: the basket includes over 700 product categories, ranging from clothing to jewelry, from furniture to food, from eyewear to boats.
For the Confindustria Research Centre, the “Beautiful and Well Made” segment is one of the key specializations of the Italian production system and one of the most effective tools for strengthening the country’s economic presence worldwide. It is not just a trade issue. The BBF also contributes to promoting Italy’s image, strengthening economic and cultural relations with global partners and consolidating the country’s positioning in the most qualified market segments.
In an international scenario characterized by growing uncertainty and competition, strengthening this specialization – through promotional policies, brand protection, and trade openness – remains one of the key levers for supporting the growth of Italian exports in the coming years.
Mature markets and new growth opportunities
The report – presented during an event hosted at the Prato Textile Museum – underlines that the BBF segment continues to find its main commercial outlets in advanced markets, with countries such as the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom remaining central to Italian exports, both in terms of consumption volume and demand for medium-to-high-end products. At the same time, even these mature economies still have significant room for growth. The study estimates an overall additional potential of approximately €27.6 billion in BBF exports, €19.4 billion of which is exactly in advanced markets. Demand for BBF products, therefore, continues to be concentrated primarily in advanced economies, which account for €136.4 billion of exports, compared to €33.8 billion in emerging markets.
Alongside well-established markets, interesting new areas of expansion are emerging. Emerging countries, in particular – including China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Kazakhstan – are a growing demand basin, with an estimated potential of over eight billion euros in additional exports.
Latin America and the Caribbean are among the regions showing the most interesting trends, where Italian exports of BBF products have grown rapidly in recent years. Between 2018 and 2024, exports to this region increased by an average of 10% annually, faster than the rest of the world.
This expansion is driven by a structural shift in international consumption. Rising incomes in many emerging economies have led to the creation of new urban middle classes, increasingly interested in quality goods and products that express cultural identity and style: according to the report, potential global demand for BBF goods regards over 1.2 billion affluent consumers worldwide. A significant portion of this demand comes from the so-called “aspirational middle class,” with annual incomes between $30,000 and $60,000, particularly attracted by products that combine quality, design, and cultural identity, typical of Italian goods.
In this context, Made in Italy products are not only a manufacturing offer, but also a globally recognized lifestyle model. BBF products combine cultural content, aesthetics, and functionality, elements that contribute to strengthening the attractiveness of Italian brands in international markets.
