Italy’s trade surplus widened to €4.3 billion in April 2026 from €2.4 billion in the same month a year earlier, although it fell short of market forecasts for a €5.19 billion surplus. Exports increased by 8.8% year-on-year to €57.6 billion, with most sectors contributing to the growth, notably basic metals and fabricated metal products, excluding machinery and equipment (32.9%), coke and refined petroleum products (52.0%), machinery and equipment not classified elsewhere (6.3%), chemical substances and products (10.5%), motor vehicles (16.1%), and electrical equipment (10.4%). Switzerland remained Italy’s largest export market (39.4%), followed by the US (12.1%), China (36.2%), France (7.6%), and Germany (5.0%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 5.5% to €53.3 billion, primarily due to increased purchases of metals and crude oil. Imports from EU and non-EU countries grew by 5.2% and 5.9%, respectively.