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Italy trade in 2024

In 2024, Italy exported $632.6 billion and imported $589.4 billion, a trade surplus of $43.1 billion. It was the world's 7th-largest exporter, with 2.8% of world exports. Its top export was medicines in measured doses or retail packs (6.6% of the total) and its main trading partner was Germany (12.3% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$632.6billion
Imports
$589.4billion
Trade balance
+$43.1billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Medicines in measured doses or retail packs (6.6%) and refined petroleum (2.8%) together make up 9.4% of its exports.

  1. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$41.5 billion · 6.6%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  2. Refined petroleum$17.8 billion · 2.8%
    Main partner: Gibraltar
  3. Jewelry$17.1 billion · 2.7%
    Main partner: Turkey
  4. Cars$16.5 billion · 2.6%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Auto parts$15.3 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: Germany
  6. Vaccines, blood and antisera$11.9 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Bags, suitcases and cases$11.8 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: France
  8. Valves and taps$9.5 billion · 1.5%
    Main partner: United States
  9. Wine$8.8 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Leather footwear$8.6 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: France

What it imports

Cars (6%) and crude petroleum (5.6%) together make up 11.7% of its imports.

  1. Cars$35.6 billion · 6%
    Main partner: Germany
  2. Crude petroleum$33.1 billion · 5.6%
    Main partner: Libya
  3. Natural gas and LPG$29.2 billion · 5%
    Main partner: Algeria
  4. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$18.3 billion · 3.1%
    Main partner: Belgium
  5. Vaccines, blood and antisera$12.5 billion · 2.1%
    Main partner: Germany
  6. Refined petroleum$11.3 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: Saudi Arabia
  7. Cameras and broadcast equipment$10.6 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: China
  8. Gold$10.1 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  9. Hormones$9.8 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Auto parts$9.2 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: Germany
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
84 · Mechanical machinery$107.7 billion$52.4 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$55 billion$32 billion
87 · Vehicles$46.6 billion$56.2 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$41.3 billion$47.5 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$25.8 billion$19.8 billion
39 · Plastics$24.3 billion$25.5 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$21.4 billion$80.6 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$19.8 billion$8.2 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$16.6 billion$16.5 billion
72 · Iron and steel$14.2 billion$21.1 billion
62 · Woven clothing$13.9 billion$8.7 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$13.8 billion$2.9 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$13.7 billion$4.5 billion
42 · Leather goods and bags$13.4 billion$4 billion
64 · Footwear$13.3 billion$7.6 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$10.5 billion$4.5 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$9.9 billion$9.1 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$9.6 billion$2.3 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$9 billion$29.1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$8.3 billion$6.7 billion
76 · Aluminum$7.6 billion$8.3 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$6.9 billion$5.7 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$6.4 billion$5.5 billion
40 · Rubber$6.3 billion$5.9 billion
89 · Ships and boats$5.9 billion$1.7 billion
74 · Copper$5.9 billion$9.7 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$5.8 billion$2.2 billion
69 · Ceramics$5.1 billion$1.1 billion
21 · Food preparations$5.1 billion$1.8 billion
15 · Fats and oils$4.6 billion$7.5 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$4.3 billion$3.8 billion
08 · Fruit and nuts$4.2 billion$4.3 billion
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$3.9 billion$2.1 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$3.5 billion$3 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$3.4 billion$1.9 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$3.3 billion$2.5 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$3.2 billion$1.5 billion
41 · Hides and leather$3.1 billion$1.8 billion
02 · Meat and offal$3 billion$6.5 billion
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$2.8 billion$3.2 billion
70 · Glass$2.7 billion$2.7 billion
24 · Tobacco$2.4 billion$2.6 billion
44 · Wood$2.3 billion$4.9 billion
07 · Vegetables$2.1 billion$2.6 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$2.1 billion$2.9 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$2 billion$2.5 billion
51 · Wool$1.9 billion$1.2 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$1.9 billion$1.7 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$1.8 billion$3.1 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$1.8 billion$2.7 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$1.7 billion$1.4 billion
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$1.6 billion$920 million
97 · Art and antiques$1.3 billion$299 million
49 · Books and printed matter$1.3 billion$598 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$1.2 billion$567 million
86 · Railway equipment$1.2 billion$987 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$1.1 billion$840 million
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$1.1 billion$993 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$1.1 billion$676 million
52 · Cotton$1.1 billion$947 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$1.1 billion$1 billion
93 · Weapons and ammunition$1.1 billion$185 million
25 · Salt, stone and cement$1.1 billion$1.7 billion
10 · Cereals$1 billion$4.8 billion
60 · Knitted fabric$983 million$653 million
91 · Watches and clocks$885 million$1.8 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$884 million$1.5 billion
75 · Nickel$818 million$1.3 billion
12 · Oilseeds and grains$727 million$2.2 billion
65 · Hats$713 million$496 million
11 · Milling products and malt$699 million$523 million
31 · Fertilizers$665 million$1.1 billion
17 · Sugar and sweets$605 million$1.7 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$538 million$6.3 billion
58 · Special fabrics and lace$490 million$289 million
26 · Ores and slag$480 million$959 million
47 · Wood pulp$407 million$2.6 billion
13 · Gums and plant extracts$358 million$281 million
53 · Other plant fibers$343 million$233 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$314 million$149 million
81 · Other base metals$245 million$529 million
50 · Silk$243 million$288 million
05 · Other animal products$205 million$304 million
79 · Zinc$185 million$803 million
57 · Carpets and rugs$182 million$248 million
92 · Musical instruments$143 million$149 million
78 · Lead$124 million$274 million
36 · Explosives and matches$111 million$193 million
01 · Live animals$90 million$1.9 billion
37 · Photographic goods$76 million$225 million
45 · Cork$62 million$184 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$57 million$86 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$55 million$154 million
80 · Tin$53 million$172 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$38 million$91 million
14 · Other plant products$9 million$30 million

Trading partners

Its main destination is the United States (11.2% of exports) and its main source is Germany (14.3% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States70.511.2%Sea
Germany66.110.5%Sea
France57.19%Land
United Kingdom31.65%Sea
Switzerland31.24.9%Land
Spain30.24.8%Sea
Turkey19.33.1%Sea
China18.83%Air
Poland18.32.9%Sea
Belgium17.62.8%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
Germany8414.3%Sea
China51.88.8%Sea
France50.28.5%Land
Netherlands366.1%Sea
Spain34.35.8%Sea
United States26.84.5%Air
Belgium25.94.4%Sea
Switzerland16.82.8%Land
Poland16.52.8%Sea
Austria12.62.1%Land

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, Italy accounted for 2.8% of world exports, compared with 4.4% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports tripled since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 633
  • Imports 589
  • Balance +43.1

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$223 billion$199.8 billion$23.1 billion
1996$240.5 billion$207.4 billion$33.1 billion
1997$232.4 billion$208.2 billion$24.1 billion
1998$238.5 billion$215.5 billion$23 billion
1999$230.4 billion$220.8 billion$9.6 billion
2000$234.7 billion$236.5 billion-$1.7 billion
2001$238.3 billion$232.1 billion$6.2 billion
2002$249.7 billion$244.6 billion$5.1 billion
2003$288.6 billion$289.3 billion-$720 million
2004$338.5 billion$345.3 billion-$6.8 billion
2005$361.8 billion$372.6 billion-$10.8 billion
2006$405.3 billion$425.8 billion-$20.4 billion
2007$479.2 billion$494.1 billion-$14.9 billion
2008$520.5 billion$540.6 billion-$20 billion
2009$397.5 billion$414.6 billion-$17 billion
2010$432.8 billion$486 billion-$53.1 billion
2011$507.9 billion$553.5 billion-$45.6 billion
2012$489.1 billion$482 billion$7 billion
2013$500.4 billion$474.4 billion$26 billion
2014$510.2 billion$476.4 billion$33.8 billion
2015$452.6 billion$412.6 billion$40.1 billion
2016$455 billion$411.9 billion$43.1 billion
2017$501.5 billion$456.2 billion$45.3 billion
2018$540.1 billion$508.8 billion$31.3 billion
2019$526.2 billion$479.4 billion$46.8 billion
2020$487.5 billion$426.2 billion$61.3 billion
2021$597.6 billion$564.8 billion$32.8 billion
2022$629.1 billion$682.1 billion-$53 billion
2023$643 billion$636.4 billion$6.6 billion
2024$632.6 billion$589.4 billion$43.1 billion

World rank

Italy holds steady at 7th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 7th in 1995
  • 7th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
19957th
19967th
19977th
19987th
19998th
20008th
20018th
20027th
20036th
20046th
20056th
20066th
20076th
20086th
20097th
20107th
20118th
20129th
20138th
20147th
20157th
20167th
20177th
20187th
20197th
20207th
20216th
20226th
20237th
20247th

What it sells

Its top export group is still mechanical machinery: 17% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 46%
  • Iron and steel products 3%
  • Oil, gas and coal 3%
  • Plastics 4%
  • Gems and precious metals 4%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 7%
  • Vehicles 7%
  • Pharmaceuticals 9%
  • Mechanical machinery 17%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Mechanical machinery21.4%17%
Pharmaceuticals1.2%8.7%
Vehicles8.2%7.4%
Electrical and electronic equipment6.5%6.5%
Gems and precious metals1.9%4.1%
Plastics4%3.8%
Oil, gas and coal1.2%3.4%
Iron and steel products3.4%3.1%
Other52.2%45.9%

Who it trades with

Germany went from 18% to 12% of Italy's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • Germany 12%
  • France 9%
  • United States 8%
  • China 6%
  • Spain 5%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
Germany18.2%12.3%
France13.5%8.8%
United States6.4%8%
China1.7%5.8%
Spain4.4%5.3%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Acciaierie d'Italia Taranto steel plantSteel · 3.9 Mt CO₂e
  • Sarroch power stationPower · 2.5 Mt CO₂e
  • Brindisi Nord power stationPower · 2.2 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • Milan$661.6 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Rome$329.3 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Verona$250.2 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries