Foreign Trade

Istat presents data on Italy’s foreign trade as well as unit value and volume indices (base year 2005=100) referring to April 2012. The results of the flash estimates on extra-EU trade for April 2012 have been disseminated on May 23^rd.

• Compared to the previous month, export in April increased by 0.2% reflecting a growth of 1.0% of sales to EU markets. Imports increased by 2.5%, with a growth of purchases by both EU markets (2.4%) and non-EU (2.6%). In the quarter (February 2012-April 2012), exports registered an economic growth of 0.5% due to an increase in sales to countries outside the EU (+2.6%). For purchases of goods there is a fall of 0.9% greater for EU markets (-2.1%).

• In April 2012, compared with the same month of the previous year, export decreased by 1.7% and affects EU markets (-4.8%). The decrease of imports (-9.3%) was due to reduced purchases by both EU countries (-10.4%) and non EU countries (-8.1%). In April, trade balance amounted to -202 million euros: +702 million for the EU countries and -904 for non-EU countries. Net of energy products, the balance was 5.4 billion euros.