The positive performance from Italy’s export sector is continuing as a result of increased demand from both traditional and emerging markets for a range of products that includes leather, footwear, textiles and clothing.

According to prominent Italian politician Emma Bonino, the last year has been “more than positive”, as progress in terms of ‘Made in Italy’ exports has not let up since June 2006. She added that statistics from Istat (the Italian statistics institute) back this up, reporting that exports to countries outside Europe have increased by 14.9%, almost double the rate of import growth (6.9%). In June, exports to Russia increased 33.3%, to Opec countries by 24.9%, to Mercosur by 23.1% and Asia by 18.1%.

Despite this, there are still fears that cheaper exports from Asian countries could be detrimental to the Italian export sector. However, exports from the sectors that are considered to be most at risk—the leather, footwear, textile, clothing and furniture sectors—have increased in value by approximately €300 million in the first six months of 2007.