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29 March 2024

Italy eyes Gulf for export growth

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By Staff

The Middle East and GCC are emerging as key areas for Italian export growth, according to Euler Hermes, a global leader in credit insurance.

Global and regional executives from Euler Hermes hosted a press conference in Milan on July 16, highlighting economic trends in the Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC), and their export implications for Italian products.

According to Michele Pignotti, Euler Hermes’ head of Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa region, “Steady economic growth and a high degree of trade openness make the Middle East and GCC a key area for Italian export growth. Construction, energy, machinery and textiles are the main export sectors. However, there may also be a higher risk of non-payments emerging in some areas; we registered a triple digit increase in Turkey to mid-year 2013.”

The analysis was an introductory preview of a more in-depth regional study the company is expected to publish this autumn.

Wilfried Verstraete, CEO, Euler Hermes Group, said that world GDP growth by year-end would be lower than earlier forecast, at 2.4 per cent, before an uptick in 2014 to 3.1 per cent. While emerging countries would remain the global growth drivers for 2013 and 2014, at 4.4 and 4.9 per cent respectively, he cautioned that slowing Asian growth overall and a sharper-than-anticipated 2013 Eurozone GDP contractions would increase momentum in global insolvencies (eight per cent in 2013; two per cent in 2014).

Presenting preliminary results of the Mediterranean benchmark study, Ludovic Subran, Euler Hermes chief economist, addressed two central themes:

1. A Mediterranean sea of opportunities, but high tide, headwind and wave warnings still apply

Three-speed Mediterranean regional growth will be demarcated by “Old Europe”, future Arabic champions (“Abtal”) and “Asian Gateway” country clusters. In 2013, overall regional economic growth of 0.4 per cent should strengthen to 1.7 per cent in 2014 with diverging growth rates between “Old Europe” (-1.3 per cent in 2013 and +0.4 per cent in 2014) and the rest of the region (3.5 and 4.1 per cent). While advanced economies will remain the trade and logistics hubs for the region, growth dynamics, opportunities and risks vary markedly intra-region. 

Increased national investments as a percentage of GDP could stimulate Mediterranean regional growth overall. Growing middle classes – especially in the GCC, Morocco and Turkey – could generate increased purchasing power potential in Middle East & Northern Africa (Mena) countries. However, prolonged economic limbo in the Eurozone would negatively impact the entire region, and political, social and consumer demand uncertainties in the Mena and GCC will be key business climate factors there.

• As “Old Europe” countries, export is the key to growth regeneration in France, Italy and Spain.  Strengths include strong R&D capabilities, skilled labour forces, value-added industries, and established trading infrastructures and institutions. However supply and demand and business confidence remain depressed, partially as these countries continue to de-industrialise.

• Among Arabic-speaking countries in the Mediterranean basin, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia stand out among the “Abtals”. Significant natural resources and major growth in the middle classes are enhanced by competitive labour costs and increased industrialisation. Better quality maritime trade infrastructure including ports and infrastructure, and the adoption of international business financing standards are central to sustainable intra-regional trade growth. Moroccan economic resilience underpins its potential as the initial champion short-term.

• Among the “Asian Gateway” countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey are best positioned to leverage traditional and recently increased Asian trading ties. Strengths include ongoing industrialisation coupled with rising middle class demographics. Private sector trade opportunities are driven by a competitive labour market (Turkey) and stable financing in the GCC. Risks in this sub-region include vulnerability to high capital flows, social and political stress (Turkey), and a high dependency on energy prices (GCC).

2. Italy – rebuilding for the future

As Italy weathers its second consecutive year of recession (-2.4 per cent in 2012; -1.8 per cent in 2013), a mild recovery is forecast for 2014 (0.3 per cent). Insolvencies are increasing for the sixth consecutive year (seven per cent in 2013) and are expected to stabilise in 2014. Domestic demand, down 10 per cent since the pre-crisis peak, is expected to continue its downward trend in 2014 (-14 per cent). The parallel decline in funding availability to non-financial companies also remains a challenge to economic recovery.

For Italian businesses, innovation, cost-competitiveness and exports are key to reviving and sustaining growth. Italian exports are currently oriented to mid-range technical products, compared to value-add leaders such as Germany and the US.

However, the structure of Italian exports remains one of the most diversified in the world – chemicals, electronics, energy, machinery, steel, textiles and vehicles. Vibrant global demand in each of these sectors offers current and future opportunities. Further improving hard skills and productivity will serve Italian businesses well in reducing labour costs and strengthening value-added service capabilities. Developing new supply and value chains can also stimulate exports.

Already challenged by significant payment delays and insolvencies domestically, Italian businesses will need to ensure stronger credit management practices to offset added risks in emerging markets.

As the world’s economic power and trade routes continue to realign, Italy is at a crossroads in capitalising on export opportunities. Global momentum creates prospects for Italian sectors with an intensive concentration of R&D and highly skilled labour forces, such as aeronautics, finance and information technology. The lower value-added textiles sector is already one of the most competitive. The country’s geographic location translates to logistics and transport sector opportunities, given the growing port and airport requirements around the Mediterranean basin.

“In pragmatic terms, assuming Italy is able to retain its current Mediterranean market share in three of its core sectors – cars $2billion per year; machinery $9 billion per year; textiles $3 billion per year – the global export opportunities for these sectors could equate to an additional 90,000 Fiat 500 cars, 30,000 tractors, and approximately three million suits.”