Istat

Trade, exports to the US fell by over 21% in August while imports accelerated (+68.5%)

In August extra-EU exports - 8.1%, imports - 7.1%.

by Rome Editorial Staff

29 September 2025

Ad agosto su base annua, la flessione dell’export riguarda i beni di consumo e i beni strumentali ed è per oltre la metà dovuta alla contrazione delle vendite dirette verso gli Stati Uniti

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Key points

August exports to the US down more than 21%
Instead, imports from the United States are growing

1' min read

In August, after two consecutive months of strong cyclical growth, exports to non-EU countries (i.e. all non-EU countries) recorded a large month-on-month decrease, mainly explained by lower sales of capital goods and non-durable consumer goods. Excluding sales of shipbuilding products recorded in July 2025, a smaller cyclical decrease is estimated (from -8.1% to -5.8%). On a year-on-year basis, the export decline concerns consumer goods and capital goods and is more than half due to the contraction of sales to the US. Imports from non-EU countries also decreased on both a monthly and annual basis. Istat took the snapshot.

August exports to the US down more than 21%

In August 2025, year-on-year decreases in exports to almost all major non-EU27 partner countries were recorded, with the largest decreases in Turkey (-26.1%) and the United States (-21.2%). Only sales to the United Kingdom (+4.9%) and Switzerland (+4.7%) increased.

Instead, imports from the United States are growing

Imports from the United Kingdom (-36.6%) and OPEC countries (-27.1%) recorded the largest trend declines; purchases from India (-9.7%), China (-7.1%) and MERCOSUR countries (-5.8%) also fell. By contrast, imports from the US (+68.5%) and ASEAN countries (+13.6%) grew.