Southern Italy experiences a surge in exports, with a notable 17% increase in 2023 compared to 2022, as reported by the latest Istat data. The pharmaceutical and automotive sectors are the primary drivers of this growth. Details reveal the following: Export Data by Istat: The significant growth in Southern Italy is primarily fueled by increased sales in Campania, particularly in pharmaceuticals and automobiles. Meanwhile, the more moderate growth in the Northwest is attributed to Piedmont, where the automotive sector takes the lead. Lombardy sees modest export growth, while Marche and Lazio contribute to the decline in the Central region, and Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the decline in the Northeast. The islands experience a contraction, mainly due to reduced exports of refined petroleum products. In 2023, the increase in exports of pharmaceutical, chemical-medicinal, and botanical products from Campania and Tuscany, and of automobiles from Piedmont and Campania, contributes to a 1.5% increase in national sales in foreign markets. Additionally, a further 1% increase comes from machinery and equipment sales from Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Veneto, and Tuscany. Conversely, the decline in sales of refined petroleum products from Sicily and Sardinia (-0.8 percentage points), and pharmaceutical, chemical-medicinal, and botanical products from Marche and Lazio (-0.7 percentage points) hinders national exports.

Export Growth Locations: In 2023, significant positive contributions to national exports include increased sales from Marche to China (+390.8%), Campania to Switzerland (+99.6%) and the United States (+53.4%), Tuscany to the United States (+24.1%), and Piedmont to France (+15.2%), Germany (+9.3%), and OPEC countries (+39.4%). Conversely, significant negative contributions stem from decreased exports from Tuscany to Switzerland (-38.0%), Marche to Belgium (-64.0%), Germany (-39.0%), and the United States (-33.2%), Lombardy to Germany (-8.4%), and Lazio to Belgium (-23.4%). Provinces significantly contributing to foreign market sales in 2023 include Naples, Turin, Siena, and Milan.

Source: https://startupitalia.eu/economy/export-il-sud-italia-se-rimesso-in-moto/