(Mar. 16) – In January, Italy sets the pace with an increase in exports by 2.9% YOY, lower than other European competitors such as Germany (6.8%) and France (7.3%) , but reducing the deficit. This is what emerges from the Assocamerestero data released this morning. The slowdown is also confirmed in the economy, which marks a decrease in sales of 2.5% compared to December 2011, in contrast with the increase of 4.2% on the month of November. “Although the data for January mark a slowdown, it’s part of a positive trend leading to a trade deficit reduction of over 2.5 billion euros over last year,” – told Gaetano Fausto Esposito, Secretary General of Assocamerestero, commenting the ISTAT figures released today. “Also overseas sales provide a positive contribution to the growth of Italian GDP: all 2011 quarters registered positive gains.” On an annual basis, extra-EU exports grows by 3%, with a 14 billion euros in value in January 2012. “Italian companies have chosen to hold medium and high markets tight by reducing the amount of goods on the market and trying to keep holding on as much as possible on sales margins, strategy that seems to bring much more results in non-EU markets, ” Esposito concluded. (Ram/Peg)
Foreign trade, exports slowdown for Italy
