Supply Chain Research

Italian exports climbed at their fastest rate since August 2011 with a 13% growth vs. a year earlier in January. Shipments to the EU increased just 9%, meaning it was overseas growth that led. As in previous months the growth in the oil price was a major driver – oil exports jumped 200%. That will continue in February as oil prices were two-thirds higher. The U.S., Italy’s largest non-EU customer market, bought 36% more goods in January. More of the same is likely in February with an 11% growth in seaborne shipments. That’s led by a 39% increase in auto-parts, mostly by Fiat-Chrysler bef...