THE’Istat certifies the slowdown of the non -EU trade in the month of May 2025.
As for commercial exchanges, both theexport that theimportwith the non -EU27 countries, there is a economic decline, respectively of the -3.5% and of the -7.6%.
Energy weighs on the drop in export
The most marked drop in imports reflects a widespread contraction in all product groups, in particular in durable consumer goods (-11.7%) and non-durable (-11.5%) as well as in energy (-9.8%).
The flexion of exports on a monthly basis is mainly linked to the strong decrease in sales of energy products (-27.6%), intermediate goods (-6%) e instrumental (-3.7%). Albeit slightly growing, exports of non -durable consumer goods (+0.6%) hold.
On a quarterly basis (March-May 2025), the export of 1%CAL, penalized once again by the energy sector (-24.7%). The only positive sign comes from non -durable consumer goods, growing +3.1%.
Positive commercial balance but under reduction
In the annual tendential comparison, exports to non -EU countries retreats -5.2% (was -1.4% in April). The contraction concerns almost all the sectors, with the energy that records a collapse of -35.3%. In contrast, non -durable consumer goods, growing by +6.8%.
The commercial balance of May 2025 remains positive (+5.256 billion euros), but decreasing compared to 5.906 billion in the same month of 2024. The energy deficit mitigates slightly, while the surplus of non -energy products drops to 8.960 billion (against 9,977 of a year earlier).
Below are the main non -EU27 commercial partners in May 2025, commercial sales are expressed in millions of euros:
- United States 3.167;
- UK 1,713;
- Switzerland 1,377;
- Türkiye 335;
- Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur) 39;
- OPEC 6;
- India -269;
- ASEAN -269;
- China -3.681.
The US, as is evident, are confirmed by the first commercial partners for Italy outside the EU. For this reason, the recent pulls and lists on Trump’s duties have heavily agitated the sleep of the representatives of the government and entrepreneurs. The new deadline for the tariff escalation is set on 9 July, but the EU is confident of being able to reach an agreement before.
Which countries drag the drop in exports
The exports Italians towards China (-22.8%), Türkiye (-22.7%) e Kingdom United (-9.6%) show the most marked drops on an annual basis. On the other hand, sales to Switzerland (+9.2%), Asean countries, is growing, i.e. the association of Nations of Southeast Asia, (+4.4%) and the United States (+2.5%).
On the front of importsthere is a clear increase in purchases from States United (+18.5%) and China (+11.4%). However, the overall imports are down by -3.6% a tendential, driven up for lower purchases from OPEC (-28.9%), Kingdom United (-18.8%) e India (-13.3%).
Below are the exports, imports and sales of the commercial balance with non -EU27 non -countries in relation to data decreased expressed in millions of euros, with related percentages:
| May 2025 | May 25/APR 25 | Mar-Mag 25 / Dec 24-FEB 25 | |
| Export | +24.690 | -3.5% | -1% |
| Import | +20.247 | -7.6% | -1.8% |
| Balance | +4.443 |
Below, however, the rough data always in millions of euros with related percentages:
| May 2025 | Gen-Mag 25 | May 25 / May 24 | Gen-Mag 25 / Gen-Mag 24 |
|
| Export | +26.022 | +127,660 | -5.2% | +0.5% |
| Import | +20.766 | +108,777 | -3.6% | +8.4% |
| Balance | +5.256 | +18.883 |
The situation in the first five months of 2025
In the period January-May 2025theexport Italian to non -EU countries shows a moderately positive tendential dynamic ( +0.5%, +1.3% net of energy). More marked the increase inimport (+8.4%), which determines a reduction of thesurplus commercial: +18.9 billion against +26.6 billion of the first five months of 2024.
