Some light, but many shadows for Sardinian exports. In 2024, the traditional districts of Southern Italy totaled almost 9.9 billion in exports at current values, marking a +0.4% on the previous year, compared to a national average of +0.9%. After a first quarter in decline (-2.2%), the two central quarters recorded rebounds of +3.6% and +4% respectively, while the fourth quarter marked a decline again (-3.2%). However, Sardinia fell by -0.1%, despite the export of the dairy sector isolating signs of +1.4% compared to -12.5% of the Sughero di Calangianus.
At the same time, the technological hubs of Southern Italy saw growth of 8.9%, despite the slowdown in the second half of the year, culminating in -9.3% between October and December.
These are the data contained in the latest periodic analysis by the Research Department of Intesa Sanpaolo, which highlights a general trend that reflects, on the one hand, still weak international demand and the challenges linked to the slow recovery of household consumption, whose disposable income has been eroded by inflation in the two-year period 2022-23, and, on the other, the ability of the specialization chains typical of the area to react to a scenario characterized by strong uncertainty and volatility.
Overall, exports from the South benefited from the resilience of the agri-food and pharmaceutical sectors , capable of attenuating the impact of the contraction suffered by other territorial specialization chains, penalized by the weakness in demand for durable and semi-durable goods.
The latest Crenos report also provides further detail on Sardinia's exports, where "the drop in the value of Sardinian petroleum products exports is highlighted (5.3 billion euros in 2024, -4% compared to the previous year), which however confirms itself as the prevailing share of Sardinia's exports (78% of the total)".
