Italy Trade Surplus Drops to 4.8 Billion Euro in May

The Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT) reported Thursday that Italy's foreign trade surplus decreased to 4.8 billion euro in May 2026. This figure marks a decline from the 6.1 billion euro surplus recorded in May of the previous year, though the result remained higher than the projected 4.5 billion euro.

Exports grew by 4.1 percent annually, with metal sales serving as the primary driver. However, imports rose at a faster pace of 7.3 percent, fueled by increased purchases of crude oil and metals. Trade dynamics shifted based on region, with exports to EU markets increasing by 6.8 percent, while imports from non-EU markets surged by 15.5 percent.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the trade surplus fell to 3.4 billion euro in May, down from 4.1 billion euro in April.