Air freight carriers are driving SME exports

International air couriers operating in Italia are providing a decisive boost to exports. DHL, FedEx and UPS provide the essential infrastructure that enables over 120,000 Italian companies to reach customers in more than 220 countries worldwide, effectively connecting them to 99% of global GDP. This is revealed in a new study conducted by Bocconi University (Green) on behalf of AICA (the Italian Association of International Air Couriers). The public presentation of the research is scheduled for Wednesday 10 June in Rome at the MIMIT (Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy).

Alessandro Lega, president of Aicai, says: ‘We are the logistics engine that enables the finest Italian-made products – from high-end engineering to fashion and life-saving, pharmaceutical and medical products – to compete on a global scale. We guarantee the speed, reliability and security that international markets demand.”

The president of Aicai continues: ‘In 2024 alone, our members’ activities generated a total impact on national output of over €10.1 billion, contributed €3.6 billion to the national GDP, and supported over 44,000 jobs. We are proud to be the facilitators of almost 28% of all Italian air exports, representing a value of over €24 billion. These are not just numbers; they represent the tangible value we create, the families we support and the growth we enable across the country.”

As the Bocconi study notes, this role is particularly vital for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the Italian economy; for these businesses, air freight carriers simplify access to complex international markets through integrated, door-to-door services that manage every stage of the process: from collection to final delivery, including customs procedures. These dynamics have strengthened Italia’s position as the world’s sixth-largest exporter of goods, with €622.6 billion and a global market share of 2.8%, and as the twelfth-largest importer, with €574.3 billion and a market share of 2.5% in 2024.

Furthermore, air freight carriers are making substantial investments in innovation, sustainability and infrastructure at their respective hubs: FedEx near Novara (in S. Pietro Mosezzo), DHL at Malpensa and UPS in Bergamo. For example: DHL’s Italy Malpensa Hub was inaugurated in 2021 with an investment of €110 million and is a technologically advanced facility capable of handling more than 30 flights a day and over 38,000 parcels an hour. In Bergamo, the UPS facility, powered entirely by renewable energy and twice the size of its predecessor, employs 280 people. The FedEx hub in Novara employs 450 people. Lega adds: ‘We are at the forefront of adopting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electrifying our ground fleets and enhancing the digitalisation of the entire logistics chain. We offer this document as a tool for constructive dialogue with policymakers and all stakeholders. By working together, we can ensure that the logistics and transport sector remains a key competitive advantage for Italia.”