5/9/2011 00:00:00
According to Istat, in July 2011, exports are up compared to the previous month (+2.3%), while imports decreased by 0.4%. In the last quarter (May-July) the dynamics from the previous quarter is positive for exports (+2.1%) and negative for imports (-3.2%). The trade balance with countries outside the EU amounted to -315 million, slightly higher than the deficit in July 2010 (-232 million). The deficit in the energy sector (-5.1 billion) is larger than a year earlier (-4.3 billion), but the surplus in the exchange of non-energy products grows from 4 billion in July 2010 to 4.8 billion in July 2011. Energy imports (+19.4%) showed an increase above average. For intermediates there is a positive trend, albeit to a marked slowdown compared to the previous month (+5.9%). A marked decline in imports is noted, however, for durable consumer goods (-11.2%). The most dynamic export markets are: Russia (+21.8%), Switzerland (+13.6%), Turkey (+12.8%) and Japan (+11.8%). The growth of exports is below the average towards EDA countries (+7.3%), United States (+5.1%), which record the widest trade surplus (1,034 million), the ASEAN countries (+ 4.8%) and largely negative towards the OPEC countries (-11%). Import growth is supported by purchases from Russia (+70.2%), India (+23.6%), Turkey (+20.4%), EDA countries (+16.2%) and ASEAN countries (+13.6%). In sharp decrease were imports from Japan (-24.4%), Switzerland (-9.6%) and the OPEC countries (-6.9%).
