FOREIGN TRADE AT 31 MARCH 2011
Main results in the province of Treviso
Edited by the Local Research and Economic Development office - Treviso Chamber of Commerce

Local export trends - analysed on final statements at the end of the year - have been confirmed during the first quarter of 2011, though with some limits due to the provisional nature of data based on a single quarter. Sectors performing well keep being machinery, rubber and plastics and food and beverages, while furniture, metalwork fabrication, domestic appliances and electrical equipment underperformed. As usual, the fashion system is a separate issue.

On the whole, exports in Treviso grew by 16.8% compared to the first quarter of 2010, in line with the Veneto region and Italy:  better than at the end of 2010 (+10.7% over the previous year), but still influenced by weak terms of comparison. In fact, exports during the first three months of 2010 were still low compared to the same period in 2009. Recovery in Treviso exports began immediately after but registered significant differences among different sectors, making it difficult to homogeneously evaluate those quarter's data.   

Therefore, it seems more reasonable - though with a critical view - to make comparisons with the first quarter of 2008, not included in the recessionary period. In this way, it is possible to evaluate which sectors have reached or outstripped their pre-crisis export levels and, on the other hand, the ones still on the way to recovery.  The sector-by-sector analysis will start from those generating the highest export volumes. 

Sector-by-sector analysis on exports 

The machinery industry – which has always been the first sector in the province as for exports – recovered +61.2% compared to the first quarter of 2010, even exceeding sales in the first quarter of 2008 (+17.3%). 

Sales keep being oriented to non EU-27 markets, especially China, with exponential growth in volumes equal to € 181 million, almost non-existent in the same period in 2008.

Export trends towards India and Brazil are lower but still positive, while Russia only registers +7.6%. Significant recovery, on the other hand, towards the USA: +105% compared to the first quarter of 2010.

Within EU-27 markets, 2008 export levels are still far away. Only Germany marked a fair increase compared to the same period one year ago (+24%).

The furniture sector – the second export item in Treviso – recovers compared to the first quarter of 2010 (+8.5%) but it does not reach 2008 levels anyway (-9.4%).  Among the first ten markets, good sales performance to Germany and France, compared to both the first quarters of 2010 and 2008.

The fashion system is a separate issue: (continue)

Read the whole report: Foreign trade in the province of Treviso at 31 March 2011

English translation by trevisosystem.com m.b.