Confartigianato

Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto: the regions most exposed to the crisis in the Middle East

Manufacturing exports to the Middle East are worth EUR 27.8 billion, 4.6% of Italy's total manufacturing exports

by Lorenzo Pace

8 March 2026aggiornato il 9 marzo 2026, ore 8:35

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Export to the Middle East increased in 2025
Regions' exports to the Middle East: Tuscany most exposed, South lowest weight
Sectors

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The crisis in the Middle East does not only affect oil or gas. The area is strategic for the Italian economy also for the sale of products made in Italy: manufacturing exports are worth 27.8 billion euro, 4.6 per cent of the total.

In 2025, exports to the Middle East increased

A growing phenomenon, as Confartigianato figures show. in the first eleven months of 2025, exports to the Middle East rose by 7.9%. And the two main Italian markets in the area are also growing: the United Arab Emirates (+18.5% in 2025) and Saudi Arabia (+3.7% in 2025). Respectively, the two countries are worth EUR 9.1 billion and EUR 6.3 billion in exports.

Other expanding markets include Kuwait (+57.2% in 2025), reaching EUR 1.9 billion in exports, and Lebanon (+18.5% in 2025), with EUR 971 million. On the contrary, Qatar (-14.6%), with €2 billion, Iraq (-1.6%), with €965 million, and Israel (-0.8%), with €3.4 billion, mark a decrease in sales of Italian products.

The regions' exports to the Middle East: Tuscany the most exposed, the South the lowest weight

For Italia, in short, all exports to the Middle East are worth 1.28% of GDP. Confartigianato, processing Istat data, reveals that the weight on the gross domestic product differs from Region to Region. For example, it is low in all the southern regions. The maximum, in fact, is recorded in Sicilia and in Sardinia, with an exposure of 0.6% of GDP.

The most exposed, on the other hand, is Tuscany: there, manufacturing exports to the Middle East are worth 4 billion, or 2.94% of the regional GDP. They are followed by Emilia-Romagna (3.4 billion: 1.79% of GDP), Veneto (3.3 billion: 1.69% of GDP), Lombardy (8.2 billion: 1.67% of GDP) and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (725 billion: 1.61% of GDP).

The sectors

A quarter of all Italian products exported to the Middle East are machinery and appliances, worth 7 billion.

This is followed by a further EUR 3.2 billion in products of other manufacturing activities, such as jewellery and processed stones (EUR 1.8 billion), furniture (EUR 751 million) and glasses (EUR 260 million), as well as EUR 400 million in other medical supplies, sporting goods and games.

Then there are basic metals and metal products with 2.7 billion, transport equipment with 2.6 billion and fashion products (textiles, clothing, leather and accessories) with 2.4 billion.

Overall, explains Confartigianato, the sectors with the largest presence of micro and small enterprises - food, fashion, wood and furniture, metal products, jewellery and eyewear - accumulate 8.6 billion in exports to the Middle East.