Italy's trade slows in May 2025; import prices continue to fall

Italy’s foreign trade has declined in May 2025, with seasonally adjusted exports falling by 2.3 per cent and imports by 4.1 per cent compared to April, according to the official statistical agency Istat.

Export reductions were sharper for non-EU countries (-3.1 per cent) than for EU markets (-1.7 per cent), while imports dropped by 7.5 per cent from non-EU countries and 1.3 per cent from EU partners.

Quarterly data show a continued slowdown, with exports down 1.2 per cent and imports by 0.7 per cent over the past three months. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, exports slipped 1.9 per cent and imports 1.7 per cent.

Exports to non-EU countries fell 4.6 per cent, offsetting a modest 0.7 per cent rise in EU-bound shipments. Imports also declined across both zones, down 3.4 per cent for non-EU and 0.4 per cent for EU countries.

Despite the decline in trade flows, Italy posted a trade surplus of €6.16 billion (~$7.16 billion) in May—€776 million (~$902 million) with EU countries and €5.39 billion (~$6.26 billion) with non-EU nations. Excluding energy, the surplus widened to €9.62 billion (~$11.19 billion).

Import prices also continued to decline, falling 1.4 per cent month on month and 3 per cent YoY, driven mainly by a sharper drop in non-euro area prices (-3.7 per cent) versus the euro zone (-2.1 per cent).

ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)