Italy’s trade surplus widened to €4.3 billion in April 2026, up from €2.4 billion in the same month a year earlier, though it came in below market expectations of €5.19 billion. Exports rose 8.8% year-on-year to €57.6 billion, supported by strong growth in shipments of basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (32.9%), coke and refined petroleum products (52.0%), machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (NEC) (6.3%), chemical substances and products (10.5%), motor vehicles (16.1%), and electrical equipment (10.4%).
Switzerland remained Italy’s leading export destination, with exports there increasing by 39.4%, followed by China (36.2%), the United States (12.1%), France (7.6%), and Germany (5.0%).
On the import side, purchases from abroad grew 5.5% to €53.3 billion, mainly reflecting higher imports of metals and crude oil. Imports from EU countries rose 5.2%, while those from non‑EU countries increased 5.9%.