Italy trade surplus widens y/y in December, expands to $57.5 billion in 2024

(Reuters) - Italy posted a trade surplus with the rest of the world of 5.980 billion euros ($6.26 billion) in December, compared with a surplus of 5.333 billion euros in the same month of 2023, data showed on Monday.

Exports rose 2.9% year-on-year, while imports increased 1.7%, national statistics office ISTAT reported.

In 2024 Italy recorded an overall trade surplus with the rest of the world of 54.923 billion euros, compared to a surplus of 34.011 billion euros the year before.

With European Union countries, Italy registered a December trade deficit of 1.861 billion euros ($1.95 billion), compared with a deficit of 2.771 billion in 2023.

Exports to EU nations in December were up 1.4% year-on-year, compared to a fall of 2.4% in imports.

Italy posted an overall 2024 trade deficit with EU countries of 10.152 billion euros, compared to a deficit of 11.593 billion euros in 2023.

($1 = 0.9541 euros)

(Reporting by Laura Contemori, editing by Antonella Cinelli)