(Finance) – Istat has announced that ad August 2024 thecommercial exchange with non-EU27 countries recorded a limited cyclical increase for both flows, larger for exports (+0.8%) than imports (+0.3%).
THE’increase on a monthly basis of exports is due to the greater sales of durable (+12.7%) and non-durable (+5.8%) consumer goods; However, exports of energy (-9.0%), capital goods (-2.8%) and intermediate goods (-2.5%) decreased. On the import side, excluding energy (-5.3%), there are widespread economic increases of varying intensity, the largest for intermediate goods (+4.7%).
In the June-August quarter 2024, compared to the previous year, exports decrease by 2.5%. Exports of energy (-17.8%), durable consumer goods (-15.8%) and, to a more limited extent, capital goods (-2.2%) decreased; sales of non-durable consumer goods (+0.3%) and intermediate goods (+0.1%) showed a modest increase. In the same period, imports recorded a reduction of 1.3%, mainly due to lower purchases of non-durable consumer goods (-4.9%).
In August 2024, exports will reduce on an annual basis by 7.4% (it was +7.6% in July 2024). The decline is determined by lower sales of energy (-38.0%) and capital goods (-21.8%), while exports of durable (+24.9%) and non-durable (+3.0%) consumer goods are growing. 5%) and intermediate goods (+1.1%). Imports recorded a year-on-year decline of 6.5%, mainly due to the contraction in energy purchases (-20.5%); a significant negative contribution also comes from lower purchases of non-durable consumer goods (-8.5%); imports of intermediate goods are growing (+10.3%).
In August 2024 the trade balance with non-EU27 countries it is positive and equal to +2,687 million (+3,081 million in the same month of 2023). The energy deficit (-4,244 million) is lower than a year earlier (-5,095 million). The surplus in the trade of non-energy products reduced from 8,176 million in August 2023 to 6,930 million in August 2024.
In August 2024 exports to the United States (-23.1%) marks a marked downward trend; Sales to China (-7.6%), Japan (-7.0%) and the United Kingdom (-5.6%) also decreased. Exports to Türkiye (+17.2%), ASEAN countries (+10.2%) and OPEC countries (+9.4%) are growing on an annual basis.
Imports from Swiss (-44.7%), United States (-37.8%), India (-33.3%) and OPEC countries (-24.5%) recorded a large trend contraction; the reduction in purchases from Türkiye was relatively more limited (-10.7%). On the other hand, imports from the other main non-EU27 partner countries are increasing, with the largest trend increases for MERCOSUR countries (+27.6%) and China (+26.3%).
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