Emilia-Romagna economic and demographic trends

In the second quarter of 2026, the Emilia-Romagna region experienced varied economic shifts. Modena recorded the highest export growth among the region's three major industrial provinces, with foreign sales reaching nearly 5 billion euros, a 6.1% increase from the previous year. While total export values remained highest in Bologna, regional growth was driven significantly by a 32.8% increase in sales toward the Mercosur region, specifically Uruguay and Paraguay. This occurred despite a decline in exports to the United States and the Middle East.

Simultaneously, regional reports addressed demographic stability, noting that approximately 600,000 foreign citizens, or nearly 13% of the population, reside in Emilia-Romagna. These residents are described as essential to sectors such as agriculture, industry, and tourism. Experts suggest that migration is a structural component of the economy and is vital to preventing significant population decline, as projections indicate the region could lose over 91,000 residents by 2045 without migratory flows.