Made in Italy exports and freight transport continue to grow

In the first ten months of 2025, Made in Italy exports increased by 3.5 per cent, signalling resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The 26th Fedespedi Economic Outlook, published by Italy’s National Federation of International Freight Forwarding Companies, describes an economy that is holding steady despite geopolitical tensions and renewed tariff barriers. 

Energy volatility remains a structural concern, but the broader macroeconomic framework appears stable.

Italy closed the year with GDP growth of 0.7 per cent. Inflation stabilised below 2 per cent, in line with the European Central Bank’s target, and the country recorded a trade surplus of €39.6 billion. 

Investment in new technologies has supported competitiveness, helping to cushion the impact of weaker global demand in some sectors.

North America drives growth as sectors diverge

Foreign trade offers the clearest signals of adjustment. Exports to North America rose by 8.5 per cent, partly reflecting a front loading of orders ahead of new tariff measures. The United States posted a 9.1 per cent increase in value and now represents 11.9 per cent of total Italian exports.

Pharmaceuticals delivered the most remarkable performance, expanding by 62.7 per cent, with 22.8 per cent of exports directed to the US market. Automotive exports moved in the opposite direction, with vehicle shipments down 20.6 per cent. 

Food exports declined by 1.3 per cent, while wine fell by 7.5 per cent. Shipbuilding, by contrast, surged by 192.5 per cent, reflecting a reconfiguration of value chains and renewed demand in specialised industrial segments.

Globally, China closed 2025 with exports up 5.5 per cent and a trade surplus approaching 1.2 trillion dollars. Despite tariffs, the United States remains Beijing’s largest trading partner, followed by Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan. 

Italy ranks nineteenth among China’s export destinations, absorbing 1.3 per cent of its shipments.

Ports and air cargo confirm trade momentum

Maritime transport data reinforce the picture of steady global flows. Container traffic worldwide grew between 4 and 5 per cent in 2025. The world’s 25 largest ports handled 375.3 million TEUs, an increase of 5.9 per cent. 

The Far East continues to drive trade, particularly towards Sub Saharan Africa and South America.

Italian ports handled 9.35 million TEUs, up 8.3 per cent. Savona recorded a sharp increase of 58.4 per cent, followed by Cagliari at 33.8 per cent and Gioia Tauro at 14.2 per cent. Trieste declined by 19.1 per cent and Genoa by 1.6 per cent. Across the Mediterranean, volumes reached 43.6 million TEUs, up 7.8 per cent.

Service performance improved noticeably. Average punctuality rose to 61.4 per cent, compared with 53 per cent in 2024, while average delays fell to 4.8 days.

Air cargo data from IATA show global demand increasing by 4.3 per cent in December 2025. In Italy, traffic grew by 1.7 per cent. Milan Malpensa consolidated its leadership with 60 per cent of national cargo volumes and growth of 4.3 per cent. Bergamo and Naples expanded by 6.8 per cent and 4 per cent respectively, while Brescia and Rome Ciampino recorded sharp declines. 

In Europe, Frankfurt remains the leading cargo hub, with Malpensa ranking eleventh and Fiumicino seventeenth.

The outlook remains balanced between resilience and uncertainty. Tensions in the Middle East have pushed Brent crude and natural gas prices higher, while US tariff policy continues to reshape global trade patterns.

Even within this complex landscape, Italy’s logistics system demonstrates adaptability. 

Freight transport is not merely an economic indicator. It is the underlying infrastructure through which shocks are absorbed, supply chains are reorganised and long term strategies gradually take shape.