Export growth slows in May, +0.2% month-on-month, +4.1% year-on-year

Export growth slowed in May, showing a 0.2% month-on-month rise and a 4.1% year-on-year gain, Istat said Thursday. In May 2026, imports are estimated to have shown stronger quarterly growth (+1.5%) than exports (+0.2%), according to Istat data. The stats agency said the modest monthly increase in exports is the result of an increase in sales to non-EU countries (+0.8%) and a reduction in those to the EU (-0.4%). In the March-May 2026 quarter, compared to the previous quarter, exports grew by 4.6% and imports by 7.2%. In May 2026, exports grew by 4.1% year-on-year in value, while they decreased by 2.4% in volume. Exports grew more strongly in monetary terms for non-EU markets (+6.8%) than for EU markets (+1.7%). Imports grew 7.3% in value, much faster for non-EU markets (+15.5%) than for EU