Italy
↔
China

Italy-China Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $68.15B total volume •Italy deficit: $26.26B

Italy → China

$20.94B

Exports (2023)

China → Italy

$47.21B

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$26.26B

Deficit for Italy

Total Trade

$68.15B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

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

Italy → China Exports

$20.94B
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Highly Diversified
Market Share:
20.6% top product
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 exports
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 exports
3Copper: waste and scrap
$365.14M
1.7% of exports
4Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances: for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, including thermostatically controlled valves
$337.24M
1.6% of exports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 3000cc
$328.45M
1.6% of exports
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 exports
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 exports
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 exports
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 exports
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 exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Italy's export portfolio to China demonstrates strong diversification across multiple sectors, with medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

China → Italy Imports

$47.21B
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Well Diversified
Critical Imports:
6.8% concentration
1Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$3.22B
6.8% of imports
2Electric accumulators: lithium-ion, including separators, whether or not rectangular (including square)
$1.51B
3.2% of imports
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 imports
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 imports
5Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc
$748.57M
1.6% of imports
6Electrical static converters
$706.08M
1.5% of imports
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 imports
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 imports
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 imports
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 imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Italy's import pattern from China reveals significant dependencyin telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Italy demonstrates competitive strength in exportingmedicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale to China, 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: Italy-China Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $68.15 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Italy maintains a deficit of $26.26 billion
  • Export Focus: Italy's primary exports 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
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from China 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

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 Italy leveraging its comparative advantages in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale.

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

Italy's specialization in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail salecomplements China's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks.

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

Supply Chain Integration: Diversified
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Italy's trade deficit of $26.26 billion impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in cases and containers: handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of leather or of composition leather present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, 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 medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale 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 Italy and China represents a total trade volume of $68.15 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Italy, with imports exceeding exportsby $26.26 billion.

Export Strengths

Italy's exports to China total $20.94 billion, with competitive advantages in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, representing $4.31B or20.6% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from China amount to $47.21 billion, highlighting economic interdependence in telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks, with Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks comprising6.8% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Italy's strategic sourcing from China. 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 Italy and China in multiple formats.

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