Italian exports, pharmaceuticals, and the agri-food sector drive the first half of 2025
Italian exports continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace. In the first half of 2025, exports reached €322.6 billion, up 2.1% compared to the same period in 2024. This is what emerges from the issue no. 71 of “Mercati in tempo reale” (Real-Time Markets), the bulletin from the Analysis and Research Office of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
Export sales were driven primarily by pharmaceuticals, agri-food products, metalworking, and means of transport other than cars, sectors that offset the difficulties experienced by machinery, textiles, and automotive.
Pharmaceuticals remained the main driver, with a 38.8% increase and a contribution of over 3 percentage points to overall export growth, thanks to expansion in key markets such as Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The agri-food sector (+5.8%), consolidating its growth in Europe and North America, and metalworking (+3.4%), driven by demand for semi-finished products and innovative materials, also performed well.
From a geographical perspective, the strongest growth was seen in Switzerland (+13.4%), Spain (+11.8%), and the United Kingdom (+8.2%), while declines were recorded in Turkey (-18.2%), Russia (-17.3%), and China (-11.7%), a sign of a still uncertain international situation. Turkey, in particular, was negatively impacted by the decline in demand for gold and semi-finished products due to new tariffs and deferred payments, which reduced Italian competitiveness. China, instead, saw widespread declines in almost all sectors, particularly clothing and leather goods.’
The trade balance, however, remains largely positive at €22.8 billion, albeit down from €29.1 billion last year, due to growing imports (+4.6%), driven by rising energy and intermediate goods prices.
Globally, world exports increased by 4.9%, with excellent performances for Taiwan (+25.2%), the United Kingdom (+12.8%), and Hong Kong (+11.9%), while the main European economies are showing signs of slowing down (Germany and France -0.9%).
Overall, the ITA report shows a solid export system but in the process of rebalancing, where high-value-added sectors – pharmaceuticals, food, and green tech – are establishing themselves as new pillars of Italian competitiveness on global markets.
For more information
ICE – Mercati in tempo reale n.71
