Edoardo Bonatti
31 gennaio 2018
According to the latest statistics, report published by the Italian Statistics Institute (ISTAT) national economy is going through a period of significant growth. Both industrial turnover and extra-EU trade are increasing; these upward trends demonstrate the strength of Italian industrial sector on both the national and the foreign markets.
In November 2017 the seasonally adjusted turnover index increased by 1.3% over the previous month (+1.9% for the domestic market and +0.2% in non-domestic market). On a quarterly basis, however, foreign markets saw the highest increase (+2.5%) while the domestic one was only marginally on the rise (+0.2%); the aggregated index grew by 1.2%. Turnover growth over November 2016 amounted to 5.1%. The seasonally adjusted index reached the highest level (106.8) since September 2011.
On monthly basis, the seasonally adjusted industrial new orders index increased by 0.3% (+0.2% in domestic market and +0.4% in non-domestic market). While this index registered a slight decrease (-0,1%) over last quarter the unadjusted one increased by 8.9% with respect to November 2016.
In December 2017 exports to non-EU countries increased by 1.9% and imports decreased by 1.7% compared with the same month of the previous year. The trade balance recorded a 6,243 million Euros surplus, a marked improvement over the 5,689 million Euros one in December 2016. On monthly basis, in seasonally adjusted terms, exports decreased by 1.8% and imports increased by 1.6%. When comparing to 2016, in 2017 exports to non-EU countries grew (+8.2%) as did imports (+10.8%). Excluding energy, the trade balance presented a surplus of 71,925 million euros (65,625 million Euros in 2016).
Major trade partners in 2017 were: China (+22.2%), Russia (+19.3%), MERCOSUR countries (+15.4%), ASEAN countries (+10.2%) and the United States (+9.8%). The results of the survey on total foreign trade in December 2017 will be disseminated on coming 15 February.
This positive trend seems to confirm the Italian economic recovery. it may encourage foreign investments, private ones. Businessmen, in fact, will also be able to take advantage of the new measures to attract investments: an entry visa, a residence permit and an appealing flat tax rate on income produced abroad.
Source: ISTAT, Industrial turnover and orders and Foreign trade with non-EU countries
