China
↔
Italy

China-Italy Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $68.15B total volume •China surplus: $26.26B

China → Italy

$47.21B

Exports (2023)

Italy → China

$20.94B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$26.26B

Surplus for China

Total Trade

$68.15B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between China and Italy. Green line shows exports from China, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the China-Italy commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

China → Italy Exports

$47.21B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
6.8% top product
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$3.22B
6.8% of exports
2Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
$1.51B
3.2% of exports
3Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$1.20B
2.5% of exports
4Communication apparatus (excluding telephone sets or base stations): machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus
$753.55M
1.6% of exports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc
$748.57M
1.6% of exports
6Electrical static converters
$706.08M
1.5% of exports
7Electrical apparatus: photosensitive, including photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels, light-emitting diodes (LED)
$701.05M
1.5% of exports
8Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale) models and similar recreational models, working or not: puzzles of all kinds
$430.36M
0.9% of exports
9Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel: containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section
$359.73M
0.8% of exports
10Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with tin, thickness of less than 0.5mm
$348.14M
0.7% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

China's export portfolio to Italy demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Italy → China Imports

$20.94B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
20.6% concentration
1Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$4.31B
20.6% of imports
2Cases and containers: handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of leather or of composition leather
$617.38M
2.9% of imports
3Copper: waste and scrap
$365.14M
1.7% of imports
4Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances: for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves
$337.24M
1.6% of imports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc
$328.45M
1.6% of imports
6Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition leather, uppers of leather
$311.70M
1.5% of imports
7Cases and containers: handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials
$286.30M
1.4% of imports
8Catalysts, supported: reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, with precious metal or precious metal compounds as the active substance, n.e.c. or included
$243.30M
1.2% of imports
9Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not crude: preparations n.e.c. containing by weight 70% or more of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals: these being the basic constituents of the preparations: waste oils
$217.21M
1.0% of imports
10Vehicles: with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine and electric motor for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power
$184.56M
0.9% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

China's import pattern from Italy reveals significant dependencyin medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

China demonstrates competitive strength in exportingtelephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks to Italy, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 20+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $68.15B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Major Partnership

Executive Summary: China-Italy Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $68.15 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: China maintains a surplus of $26.26 billion
  • Export Focus: China's primary exports include telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square), automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Italy include medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, cases and containers: handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of leather or of composition leather, copper: waste and scrap

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationDiversified
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents one of the world's largest trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $68.15B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with China leveraging its comparative advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

China's specialization in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networkscomplements Italy's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $68.15B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationLow
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $68.15B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $68.15 billion bilateral trade volume represents a major economic driverfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Very High
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks and medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

China's trade surplus of $26.26 billion strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square) present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between China and Italy represents a total trade volume of $68.15 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for China, with exports exceeding importsby $26.26 billion.

Export Strengths

China's exports to Italy total $47.21 billion, with competitive advantages in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, representing $3.22B or6.8% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Italy amount to $20.94 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, with Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale comprising20.6% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates China's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between China and Italy in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023