The president of the Ice, Institute for Foreign Trade, has analysed details relative to Italian foreign trade for the June and July 2001 period presented inside the site by the Istat.

The situation emerging from the Istat data on foreign trade for the first semester of 2001 can be considered positive on the whole. Prospects, on the other hand, look less brilliant.

We can estimate that growth in a 12,3% value of Italian exports corresponds to about 8% of increase of exported quantities: those imported result being decidedly inferior (4,4% ca.). If compared to the more recent growth estimates for world trade – equal to about 7% - the increase of exported quantities appears to be positive.

But considering the positive first six months, the second semester of 2001 does not appear to be equally promising, since it will be difficult to express a similar dynamic for exported quantities (8%). The reprise of the Euro will be able to negatively influence the dynamics of exported volumes; a further reason for companies to reinforce competition in their foreign sales in other factors besides price.