Italian regional export performance in Q1 2026 shows mixed results amid geopolitical tensions

Export data for Italy’s key manufacturing regions in the first quarter of 2026 reveal divergent trends. In Treviso province, the wood‑furniture sector fell 5 % YoY, a loss of over €21 million, with wood output down 11.7 %. Overall Italian wood‑and‑furniture exports slipped 5.2 % to €4.4 billion, driven by a 15.4 % drop to the United States and an 18.1 % decline in the Middle East. Local employers’ group CNA has asked EU authorities for tighter customs checks on Chinese imports and support for small firms. In Reggio Emilia, total manufacturing exports rose 2 % YoY, outpacing the national average of 1.3 %. The mechanical sector rebounded, with machinery up 1.1 % and overall mechanics +2.2 %. Exports of micro‑ and small firms grew 4.6 %, helped by fashion (+1.3 %) and food (+7.3 %). However, shipments to the United States fell 5.9 % and food exports to the U.S. plunged 20.3 %. Germany showed a 3.7 % gain. The region also felt a sharp –10.8 % contraction linked to the February‑onset Middle‑East conflict. Modena’s figures tell a different story, with a 4.7 % decline in total exports. The automotive sector slipped 7.6 % as U.S. demand fell 21 %, while machinery fell 2.6 % and overall mechanics dropped 5.4 %. Micro‑ and small‑firm exports fell 1.6 % despite a 4.1 % rise in food; fashion and biomedical sectors fell double digits. Exports to the United States fell 17.2 %, while German shipments edged up 0.8 %. The same Middle‑East crisis caused a –19.1 % regional contraction. PwC’s macro‑economic review notes that Italy’s GDP grew 0.3 % quarter‑on‑quarter (0.8 % YoY) in Q1 2026, buoyed by internal demand, while the euro‑area stagnated. Industrial production rose, with autos up 23.5 % YoY and machinery +5.6 %.