According to data released by Istat on Italy’s foreign trade—currently available only for non-EU countries—Italy exported goods worth €305.3 billion in 2024, marking a +1.16% increase compared to 2023. This represents the highest value reached by Italian exports to non-EU countries in the last decade.
In the same year, Italy imported goods worth €240 billion, recording a -6.2% contraction compared to 2023 (following a -20.3% decline in 2023).
Italy registered a positive trade balance with non-EU countries in 2024, amounting to +€65 billion (compared to +€45.6 billion in 2023). Excluding the energy sector (which recorded a -€50 billion deficit), the trade surplus stood at +€115 billion.
Geographical trends based on currently available data for Italy’s main non-EU trading partners, export growth in value was particularly strong in the following countries/regions: Turkey (+23.9%); ASEAN countries (+11%); OPEC countries (+6.6%); Middle East (+5.5%); United Kingdom (+5.1%); MERCOSUR countries (+4.6%); Japan (+2.5%) and India (+1%). Conversely, exports declined towards: China (-20%); Russia (-7.6%); United States (-3.6%) and Switzerland (-0.9%).
NON-EU FOREIGN TRADE PERFORMANCE – DECEMBER 2024
Focusing on December 2024, compared to December 2023, Italian exports to non-EU countries increased by +3.9%, mainly driven by higher sales of consumer goods (+16.2%). Italian imports from non-EU countries also increased by +7.5%, due to higher purchases of capital goods (+33.8%) and intermediate goods (+12.5%).
In December 2024, Italy recorded a positive trade balance with non-EU countries, amounting to +€7.8 billion (compared to +€8.1 billion in December 2023). Excluding the energy sector (which registered a -€4.6 billion deficit), the trade surplus stood at +€12.4 billion.
