PALERMO Sicilian exports in great suffering with the health emergency connected to Covid-19 which has further cut the sale of Sicilian goods and products abroad by a further 10.21%.
In 2020 there was already a decline of -24.25% and in 2019 the reduction was already alarming with -14%. From over 2 million and 230 thousand euros in the first quarter of 2020 to 2 million in the first quarter of this year. Also this year there was a heavy drop in coke and refined petroleum products (-26.82%) compared to the first quarter of 2020, but also artistic, sports, entertainment and entertainment activities with -49%; heavy losses also for wood and related products, paper and printing -28%; electrical appliances fell with – 25.23%. The best percentages are recorded on the island especially with reference to means of transport + 172%, fishery and aquaculture products with + 99.4%, substances and chemicals + 32.23%, metals + 46% . They always keep agricultural products, animals and hunting + 6.8%; food, beverages and tobacco + 3.6%; textiles, clothing and accessories + 4.8%; pharmaceutical and chemical items + 9.43%; machinery and equipment + 10.7%; products from waste treatment and remediation activities + 11.8%.
The data are from the Unioncamere Sicilia Observatory on trade trends relating to the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of 2020.
“Unfortunately, these data confirm what we have known for months. It is clear that the health emergency linked to the pandemic, which has influenced and conditioned every aspect of our life, can only bring such negative numbers also on the export front which has always been a fundamental link in the Sicilian economy – explains the president. by Unioncamere Sicilia, Giuseppe Pace -. These data for the first quarter of 2021 are heavy and inevitably affect the entire Sicilian economy, not just exports. There is a collapse in all activities related to shows, sports and entertainment that says it all about what we have experienced. We are witnessing a collapse of the island’s economy every day ».
“If we look at the data relating to the geographical areas – observes Santa Vaccaro, Secretary General of Unioncamere Sicilia – we note that about 50% of the total value of Sicilian exports is destined for European Union countries, followed by East Asia, then North Africa and Northern America. Of course, all of them experienced a significant downturn, except East Asia and Oceania which recorded a positive trend. By volume of turnover in the first quarter of 2021, the countries where Sicily exported the most were the United States, Spain and Singapore ”, concludes Vaccaro.
With reference to the export of Sicily by geographical area, decreases were recorded, again compared to the first quarter of 2020, in the various continents: -44.7% in northern Africa; – 63.7% other African countries, -20.1% South America, -18% North America, – 45.6% Middle East, -32.1% Central Asia. Minimum loss in exports to Europe of about half a percentage point. The only continental areas in positive ground are Oceania + 45%, East Asia + 32.24%. In the ranking of countries linked to the export of Sicily, the greatest decreases are found in the United States -19.4%, France -23.2%, Croatia – 61%, Tunisia – 42%. Excellent performance on Singapore with the best result + 244%; good also Belgium + 54.3%, United Kingdom + 58.7%, Turkey + 69% and China + 53.7% and Malta + 30%.