Foreign trade and import prices
In June 2021, economic growth is estimated for both foreign trade flows, more intense for imports (+1.9%) than for exports (+1.4%). The increase on a monthly basis in exports is mainly due to the increase in sales to EU markets (+2.5%) while the growth of those to the non-EU area is contained (+0.2%).
In the second quarter of 2021, compared to the previous one, exports increased by 5.0%, imports by 7.3%.
In June 2021, exports grew on an annual basis by 25.4%, with sustained increases in sales both to the EU area (+27.3%) and to non-EU markets (+23.4%). Imports recorded a more marked trend increase (+32.6%) involving both the EU area (+33.7%) and non-EU markets (+31.2%).
As of June 2021, all sectors are recording strong trend increases in exports with the exception of pharmaceutical, chemical-medicinal and botanical items, down by 1.1%.
On an annual basis, exports are growing very strongly towards all the main partner countries; the greatest contributions concern sales to Germany (with growth of +26.7%), the United States (+35.6%), France (18.9%) and Spain (+37.1%). Only exports to Japan decreased (-21.2%).
In the first six months of 2021, the trend growth in exports (+24.2%) is due in particular to the increase in sales of machinery and equipment nec (+26.1%), base metals and metal products, excluding machinery and systems (+36.1%), motor vehicles (+56.4%) and electrical appliances (+31.9%).
The estimate of the trade balance in June 2021 is equal to +5,681 million euros (it was +6,228 in June 2020). Net of energy products, the balance is equal to +8,309 million (it was +7,757 in June last year).
In June 2021, import prices increase by 0.6% on a monthly basis and by 9.5% on an annual basis.
FULL TEXT AND METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
ISTAT press release - 12 August 2021
Note: On the basis of the elaborations attached to this press release in the file "Additional graphs for foreign trade and import prices", it appears that the downward trend in pharmaceutical exports is explained by the decline in sales of pharmaceutical, chemical-medicinal and botanical items to France
