Located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea but considered part of both Southern and Western Europe, the Italian Republic imported US$422.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount represents an -11% reduction from $475 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Italy’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Italian imports during 2020 for each of Italy’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over three-fifths (61.2%) of total Italian import purchases.

Italy is strategically located near some of its most valuable trading partners. The nation sometimes called Italia shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Italian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Italy’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Italy amounted to $68.9 billion or 16.3% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.1% of Italy’s imports from Germany.

Vehicles: $11.5 billion
Machinery: $10.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $6.4 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $5.6 billion
Plastics: $4.8 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $3.1 billion
Iron and steel: $2.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.63 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.58 billion
Copper: $1.4 billion
Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.35 billion
Paper: $1.2 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.1 billion
Meat: $972.4 million
Gems, precious metals: $930.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Germany under the gems and precious metals product category via a 14.3% gain in revenue, copper (up 10.6%) then pharmaceuticals (up 8.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were products made from iron or steel (down -37.8%), vehicles (down -27.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -12.6%), dairy, eggs and honey (down -11.6%), meat (down -10.2%) and organic chemicals (down -10.1%).

Italy’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Italy amounted to $68.9 billion or 8.7% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 78.1% of Italy’s imports from the mainland China.

Vehicles: $11.5 billion
Machinery: $10.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $6.4 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $5.6 billion
Plastics: $4.8 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $3.1 billion
Iron and steel: $2.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.63 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.56 billion
Copper: $1.4 billion
Dairy, eggs, honey: $1.35 billion
Paper: $1.2 billion
Iron or steel products: $1.1 billion
Meat: $972.4 million
Gems, precious metals: $930.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from China under the gems and precious metals product category via a 14.3% gain in revenue, copper (up 10.6%) and pharmaceuticals: (up 8.9%).

Italy’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Italy amounted to $35.8 billion or 8.5% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents an -8.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 67.7% of Italy’s imports from France.

Vehicles: $4 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $3.4 billion
Machinery: $2.9 billion
Electronic equipment: $2 billion
Plastics: $1.9 billion
Iron and steel: $1.4 billion
Live animals: $1.3 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.2 billion
Perfumes, cosmetics: $1.1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $958.9 million
Other chemical goods: $942.6 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $876.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $873.7 million
Organic chemicals: $786.5 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $686.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from France under the live animals product category via a 40.7% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 10.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -26.1%), iron and steel as materials (down -26%), mineral fuels including oil (down -25.6%), organic chemicals (down -17.1%), plastics (down -10%) then electronic equipment (down -9.8%).

Italy’s Main Imports from Netherlands

In 2020, the Netherlands’ exports to Italy amounted to $25.1 billion or 5.9% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a flatlining 0.6% increase compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.3% of Italy’s imports from the Netherlands.

Machinery: $4 billion
Electronic equipment: $3.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $2.8 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $2 billion
Plastics: $1.4 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.1 billion
Other chemical goods: $803.7 million
Meat: $735.4 million
Vehicles: $617.1 million
Iron and steel: $527 million
Live trees and plants: $383.1 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $350.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $345.3 million
Footwear: $336.6 million
Fish: $333.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from the Netherlands under the live trees and plants product category via a 36.7% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 36%), machinery (up 15.8%) and pharmaceuticals (up 11.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -64.7%), footwear (down -23.2%), iron and steel as materials (down -17.9%) then knitted and crocheted clothing (down -15.3%)

Italy’s Main Imports from Spain

In 2020, Spain’s exports to Italy amounted to $22.4 billion or 5.3% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -13% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 68.7% of Italy’s imports from Spain.

Vehicles: $4.4 billion
Electronic equipment: $1.009 billion
Plastics: $1.003 billion
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $993.5 million
Fish: $879.9 million
Other chemical goods: $877.7 million
Copper: $834.4 million
Fruits, nuts: $808.1 million
Machinery: $803.6 millionmi
Iron and steel: $729.4 million
Pharmaceuticals: $716.7 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $639.2 million
Meat: $628.1 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $559.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $543.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Spain under the copper product category via a 15.3% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 12.7%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 12.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -25.5%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -22.3%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (down -21.9%), plastics as a material (down -19.8%), iron and steel as materials (down -19.2%) and fish (down -17.4%).

Italy’s Main Imports from Belgium

In 2020, Belgium’s exports to Italy amounted to $20.8 billion or 4.9% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -6.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83% of Italy’s imports from Belgium.

Pharmaceuticals: $5 billion
Organic chemicals: $3.4 billion
Plastics: $1.8 billion
Vehicles: $1.5 billion
Machinery: $1.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $865.3 million
Electronic equipment: $666.8 million
Other chemical goods: $472.9 million
Footwear: $465.3 million
Gems, precious metals: $428.5 million
Iron and steel: $423.2 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $295.4 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $283 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $258.3 million
Beverages: $230.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Belgium under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 31.5% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 30.3%), pharmaceuticals (up 11%) and organic chemicals (up 9.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -34.4%), knitted and crocheted clothing (down -22.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -21.9%), machinery (down -17.9%), gems and precious metals (down -16.9%) and plastics as a material (down -12.6%).

Italy’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Italy amounted to $16.9 billion or 4% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.7% of Italy’s imports from America.

Pharmaceuticals: $2.8 billion
Machinery: $2.3 billion
Gems, precious metals: $2.1 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $1.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion
Organic chemicals: $1 billion
Electronic equipment: $774.9 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $717 million
Other chemical goods: $518.1 million
Plastics: $435.1 million
Vehicles: $434.8 million
Fruits, nuts: $358.1 million
Cereals: $264.9 million
Woodpulp: $260.9 million
Oil seed: $240.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from the United States under the cereals product category via a 17.5% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 13.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 11.6%) and vehicles (up 8.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were woodpulp (down -27.3%), oil seed (down -26.4%), organic chemicals (down -22.3%), pharmaceuticals (down -20.4%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -19.7%) then mineral fuels including oil (down -15.4%).

Italy’s Main Imports from Switzerland

In 2020, Switzerland’s exports to Italy amounted to $10.9 billion or 2.6% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.4% of Italy’s imports from Switzerland.

Organic chemicals: $2.8 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $2.1 billion
Gems, precious metals: $1.9 billion
Machinery: $649 million
Leather, animal gut articles: $367.2 million
Clocks, watches: $312.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $282.4 million
Electronic equipment: $266.9 million
Plastics: $265.6 million
Iron and steel: $245.3 million
Footwear: $192.3 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $161.4 million
Aluminum: $137.3 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $77.6 million
Iron or steel products: $77.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Switzerland under the footwear product category via a 17% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 14.9%), knitted and crocheted clothing (up 11.6%) then medical or technical equipment (up 8%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were clocks and watches (down -44.4%), gems and precious metals (down -26.7%), articles made from leather or animal gut (down -19.7%), machinery (down -19.4%), products made from iron or steel (down -17.7%) and iron and steel as materials (down -13.6%).

Italy’s Main Imports from Russia

In 2020, Russia’s exports to Italy amounted to $10.7 billion or 2.5% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -33.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 98.1% of Italy’s imports from Russia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $7.7 billion
Iron and steel: $937.9 million
Gems, precious metals: $749.9 million
Aluminum: $328.1 million
Paper: $115.3 million
Plastics: $95.2 million
Wood: $90 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $84.5 million
Ores, slag, ash: $72.3 million
Copper: $67.3 million
Rubber: $54.6 million
Fertilizers: $48.8 million
Machinery: $46.3 million
Vegetables: $29.2 million
Cereals: $26.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Russia under the ores, slag and ash product category via a 950.3% gain in revenue, copper (up 258.3%), plastics as a material (up 96%), vegetables (up 78.8%), food waste and animal fodder (up 17.9%) and cereals (up 14.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were fertilizers (down -41.7%), mineral fuels including oil (down -38.9%), aluminum (down -37.6%), iron and steel as materials (down -30.3%), rubber (down -14.6%) and wood (down -12.7%).

Italy’s Main Imports from Poland

In 2020, Poland’s exports to Italy amounted to $10.6 billion or 2.5% of overall Italian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 74.8% of Italy’s imports from Poland.

Mineral fuels including oil: $11.9 billion
Machinery: $8.1 billion
Electronic equipment: $6.1 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $4.1 billion
Vehicles: $2.9 billion
Meat: $2.3 billion
Organic chemicals: $2 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.8 billion
Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.7 billion
Plastics: $1.6 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.5 billion
Other food preparations: $1.2 billion
Cereals: $1.17 billion
Fruits, nuts: $744 million
Oil seed: $625 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Italian imports from Poland under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 45.8% gain in revenue, railway or tram equipment (up 42.5%) and copper (up 11.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Italy’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -45.2%), medical or technical equipment (down -20%), meat (down -17%), machinery (down -15.6%), rubber (down -14.8%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -12.3%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Italy, Borders of Italy

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Italy’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries