Italy’s top 5 imported products by value in 2021 were crude oil, cars, petroleum gases, medication mixes, and blood fractions including antisera. Combined, those 5 products accounted for almost a fifth (18.4%) of Italy’s overall spending on imports during 2021.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2021, Italy’s official currency the euro appreciated by 5% against the US dollar since 2017 and strengthened by 3.9% from 2020 to 2021. The stronger European Union currency in 2021 made Italy’s imports paid for in weaker US dollars in 2021 relatively less expensive when converted starting from euros.
Major Countries Supplying Products Imported by Italy
The latest available country-specific data shows that 64.3% of products imported by Italy were furnished by exporters in: Germany (16.2% of Italy’s global total), France (8.4%), mainland China (8.3%), Netherlands (5.9%), Spain (5.2%), Belgium (4.5%), United States of America (3.4%), Russia (3%), Poland (2.6%), Switzerland (2.4%), Austria (2.3%) and Turkey (2.1%).
From a continental perspective, two-thirds (66.6%) of Italy’s total imports by value in 2021 were purchased from fellow European countries. Asian trade partners accounted for 21.9% of imports purchased by Italy while 5.2% worth originated from exporters in Africa plus 5.2% ahead of 4% for shippers in North America.
Smaller percentages came from Latin America (2.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Italy’s population of 59.2 million people, its total $551.5 billion in 2021 imports translates to roughly $9,300 in yearly product demand from every person in the south European country. That dollar amount is much higher than the average $7,000 per capita during 2020.
Italy’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Italy’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Italy.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$64.6 billion (11.7% of total imports)
- Machinery including computers: $53.9 billion (9.8%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $46.3 billion (8.4%)
- Vehicles: $44.6 billion (8.1%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $30.6 billion (5.5%)
- Iron, steel: $28.6 billion (5.2%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $27.1 billion (4.9%)
- Gems, precious metals: $19.1 billion (3.5%)
- Organic chemicals: $19 billion (3.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $15.1 billion (2.7%)
Italy’s top 10 imports represent 63.3% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Fastest growing among Italy’s top 10 import categories from 2020 to 2021 was the iron and steel category via its 92.4% increase.
In second place was mineral fuels including oil (up 80.9%) propelled by Italy’s increased spending on imported petroleum oils (both crude and refined), petroleum gas, and pertinent charges for imported electricity.
Italy’s imports of plastics both as a material plus items made from plastic accelerated by 44.1% year over year.
Imported electrical machinery and equipment increased at a slower 27.5% annual pace.
Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the adjacent virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.
Italy’s Top Mineral Fuels Imports and Related Products
In 2021, Italian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Crude oil: US$29.9 billion (up 84.8% from 2020)
- Petroleum gases: $17.5 billion (up 56.6%)
- Processed petroleum oils: $8.3 billion (up 56.8%)
- Electrical energy: $6.4 billion (up 257.5%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.4 billion (up 114.1%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $291.6 million (up 62.3%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $254.3 million (up 90.6%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $185.8 million (up 59.7%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $102.3 million (up 45%)
- Peat: $94 million (up 33.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Italian purchases of electrical energy (up 257.5%), coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 114.1%) then petroleum oil residues (up 90.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Italian businesses and consumers.
Italy’s Top Machinery Imports Including Computers
In 2021, Italian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers.
- Computers, optical readers: US$7 billion (up 9.3% from 2020)
- Taps, valves, similar appliances: $2.6 billion (up 26.5%)
- Turbo-jets: $2.3 billion (up 11.6%)
- Piston engine parts: $2.3 billion (up 27.9%)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $2.2 billion (up 26%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $2.1 billion (up 35.5%)
- Printing machinery: $2 billion (up 16.3%)
- Air conditioners: $1.99 billion (up 32.9%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.97 billion (up 276%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.97 billion (up 17.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Italian purchases of transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 35.5%), air conditioners (up 32.9%) then piston engine parts (up 27.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Italian businesses and consumers.
Italy’s Top Electrical Products Imports
In 2021, Italian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.
- Phone devices including smartphones: US$10.1 billion (up 9.9% from 2020)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $2.8 billion (up 36.1%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $2.7 billion (up 51.4%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $2.6 billion (up 37.1%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $2.6 billion (up 41.4%)
- Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $2.4 billion (up 27.3%)
- Electric storage batteries: $2.2 billion (up 74.5%)
- Electric motors, generators: $2.14 billion (up 28.6%)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $2.07 billion (up 29.2%)
- Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches: $1.7 billion (up 24.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Italian purchases of electric storage batteries (up 74.5%), television receivers, monitors and projectors (up 51.4%) then electrical converters or power units (up 41.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Italian businesses and consumers.
Italy’s Top Vehicles Imports
In 2021, Italian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles and related products.
- Cars: US$25 billion (up 9.1% from 2020)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $8.8 billion (up 24.5%)
- Trucks: $2.7 billion (up 34%)
- Tractors: $2.5 billion (up 36.3%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $1.44 billion (up 59.3%)
- Motorcycles: $1.39 billion (up 28.4%)
- Trailers: $742.5 million (up 55.9%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $599.8 million (down -3.5%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $181.8 million (up 7.3%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $158.7 million (up 32.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Italian purchases of motorcycle parts or accessories (up 59.3%), trailers (up 55.9%) then tractors (up 36.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Italian businesses and consumers.
See also Italy’s Top Trading Partners, Italy’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, Italy’s Top 10 Exports and Germany’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 31, 2022
International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on May 31, 2022
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 31, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 31, 2022
