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Trade between China and Italy

In 2024, China exported $51.8 billion to Italy and imported $18.8 billion. China ran a surplus of $33 billion with Italy, compared with a surplus of $18.9 billion in 2019. Italy was China’s 23rd largest trading partner (1% of its trade), and China was Italy’s 4th (6%).

Summary

China → Italy
$51.8billion
Italy → China
$18.8billion
China’s balance
$33billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with Italy

Trade between China and Italy grew 10.1-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 51.8
  • Imports 18.8
  • Balance +33

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$4 billion$2.9 billion$1.1 billion
1996$4.1 billion$3.2 billion$863 million
1997$4.5 billion$2.7 billion$1.8 billion
1998$4.9 billion$2.3 billion$2.6 billion
1999$5.4 billion$2.4 billion$3 billion
2000$6.5 billion$2.8 billion$3.7 billion
2001$6.6 billion$3.6 billion$3 billion
2002$7.9 billion$4.5 billion$3.3 billion
2003$10.8 billion$5.1 billion$5.7 billion
2004$14.6 billion$6.2 billion$8.4 billion
2005$17.7 billion$6.5 billion$11.1 billion
2006$22.6 billion$8 billion$14.6 billion
2007$29.8 billion$9.6 billion$20.2 billion
2008$34.5 billion$10.4 billion$24.1 billion
2009$27 billion$9.9 billion$17.1 billion
2010$38.6 billion$12.5 billion$26.1 billion
2011$41.6 billion$14.9 billion$26.7 billion
2012$32.4 billion$12.9 billion$19.4 billion
2013$30.9 billion$14.3 billion$16.6 billion
2014$33.5 billion$15.5 billion$18 billion
2015$31.7 billion$13.4 billion$18.2 billion
2016$30.3 billion$13.8 billion$16.6 billion
2017$32.1 billion$17.3 billion$14.8 billion
2018$36.4 billion$17.2 billion$19.2 billion
2019$35.7 billion$16.8 billion$18.9 billion
2020$36.9 billion$17.3 billion$19.6 billion
2021$45.6 billion$22.2 billion$23.4 billion
2022$57.9 billion$20.3 billion$37.7 billion
2023$47.7 billion$22.2 billion$25.5 billion
2024$51.8 billion$18.8 billion$33 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to Italy

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds$6.2 billion · 12%
    36 thousand tonnes
  2. Cameras and broadcast equipment$4.3 billion · 8.2%
    11 thousand tonnes
  3. Computers$1.4 billion · 2.6%
    5 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Cars$1.2 billion · 2.2%
    122 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  5. Bags, suitcases and cases$1.1 billion · 2.2%
    81 thousand tonnes
  6. Batteries$870 million · 1.7%
    65 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  7. Air conditioners$768 million · 1.5%
    106 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Transformers and power supplies$687 million · 1.3%
    37 thousand tonnes
  9. Auto parts$678 million · 1.3%
    199 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  10. Electric heaters and hair dryers$642 million · 1.2%
    80 thousand tonnes

What Italy sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Bags, suitcases and cases$1.2 billion · 6.6%
    1 thousand tonnes
  2. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$1.1 billion · 6%
    6 thousand tonnes · Italy’s destinations
  3. Leather footwear$672 million · 3.6%
    3 thousand tonnes
  4. Valves and taps$563 million · 3%
    14 thousand tonnes
  5. Cars$428 million · 2.3%
    4 thousand tonnes · Italy’s destinations
  6. Sweaters and pullovers$378 million · 2%
    460 tonnes
  7. Copper scrap$360 million · 1.9%
    54 thousand tonnes
  8. Women's suits and dresses$338 million · 1.8%
    529 tonnes
  9. Women's coats and jackets$308 million · 1.6%
    351 tonnes
  10. Diodes, transistors and solar cells$302 million · 1.6%
    118 tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Genoa.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Genoa is 13,982 nautical miles (25,895 km) long: ≈ 32.5–41.5 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Gibraltar (13,982 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal (8,817 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$42.9 billion · 60.8%
  2. Air$27.7 billion · 39.2%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

Italy was China’s 23rd largest trading partner (1% of its trade), and China was Italy’s 4th (6%).

Italy in China’s trade
1.2%
Italy’s rank among China’s partners
23rd
China in Italy’s trade
5.8%
China’s rank among Italy’s partners
4th

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of Italy

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. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.