MODENA. In 2023 theEmilia Romagna showed significant growth in exports districts, with a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year, going from 21 billion euros to 22.1 billion euros. Results that become even more relevant when compared with the national value of Italian district businesses and if we take into account the challenges that the region had to face with the dramatic consequences of the May 2023 flood.
Despite these difficulties, the region has managed to maintain a positive export dynamic, demonstrating the resilience and strength of its productive fabric. This is what emerges from the periodic analysis of Studies and research management of Intesa Sanpaolo.
The analysis of the districts
The analysis of the districts reveals a varied picture. Among the districts of mechanicsthat of the stands out Agricultural machinery Of Reggio Emilia And Modena, with an extraordinary growth of 79.3% (+523 million euros). At the same time, the Packaging machines Of Bologna and the Food machinery in Parma they marked notable increases of 23.9% and 21.9% respectively. Also there Mechatronics Of Reggio Emilia, with almost 5 billion euros, the first regional district for exports at current prices in 2023, showed growth, albeit more limited, with an increase of 3.6% (+170 million) compared to the previous year. The district of Woodworking machines Of Rimini marks good growth (+6.2%). The change in exports was also positive Machine tools Of Piacenza (+2.8%). However, not all districts of the supply chain have achieved the same brilliant results. The district of Mopeds Of Bologna it ended the year in negative, recording a decrease in sales of 2.7%.
Also the agri-food sectorwith total exports of over 4.4 billion euros at current prices, showed strong growth in 2023, led byFood Of Parma, which increased its sales by 15.7% (+227 million). The dynamics of export flows of the products is also notable Parma cured meats he was born in Parma dairy, with respective growth of 12.7% and 11.5%. Among the other districts in the sector, there were also increases Cured meats from Modena (+5.9%) and theRomagna fruit and vegetables which, after a physiological decline in sales in the third quarter due to the floods in May, closed the year on a positive note (+1.7%) thanks to the recovery in the fourth quarter of the year (+4.5%). On the contrary, two of the seven regional agri-food districts recorded a decline in exports; the dairy and cured meats districts of Reggio Emilia saw their sales abroad reduce by 2.7% and 11% respectively.
The district of Sassuolo tiles recorded a decline of 14.6%, a reduction mainly due to the decline in demand in the sector, a phenomenon affected by the progressive slowdown of the construction cycle. The district of Upholstered furniture from Forlì is instead facing the consequences of weak demand for durable consumer goods, the district’s exports suffered a contraction of 8.4% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
In the system fashionL’Rimini clothing recorded a positive balance with an increase of 5.6%. On the other hand, the Knitwear and clothing Of Carpi and the San Mauro Pascoli footwear recorded a reduction in sales, with drops of 33.3% and 6.6% respectively compared to 2022.
THE technological centers of Emilia-Romagna saw growth of 10.9%, in line with the national trend. The Ict Hub of Emilia-Romagna and the Mirandola Biomedical recorded an increase of 8.4% and 23.6% respectively, while the Biomedical sector of Bologna showed a slight decline of 0.6%.
The positive dynamics of the regional districts is supported by the push of traditional markets, such as France (+9.1%), United States (+4.9%), Germany (+1.9%), Spain (+3.7%), United Kingdom (+4.7%) e Poland (+14.4%).
Among the new markets, the further opening towards Türkiyewhich stood out with an increase of 63.3%, and theIndia (+54.5%), while the China recorded a contraction of 20.7%.
Commentary on the data
Alessandra Florio, Regional Director of Emilia-Romagna and Marche Intesa Sanpaolo: «Even in 2023 the regional districts managed to maintain a positive export dynamic, demonstrating once again the extraordinary propensity to export and the strength and resilience of the local production fabric. Regional production diversification and the strong presence of industrial districts and local supply chains represent a fundamental pillar for the competitiveness of the regional economy on a global scale. For this reason, the new program “Your future is our business” will be important for the region, with which Intesa Sanpaolo makes 10 billion euros available until 2026 to support the planning of SMEs and smaller companies in Emilia-Romagna on priority areas including, in fact, development abroad and on new markets”.
