Presented in descending order, the following list showcases the general product categories under which Italy earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. Machinery: US$64.8 billion (38.2% of all product surpluses)
2. Articles of iron or steel: $14.6 billion (8.6%)
3. Furniture, lighting , signs: $10.6 billion (6.2%)
4. Beverages, spirits and vinegar:$7.6 billion (4.5%)
5. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $6 billion (3.5%)
6. Leather, animal gut articles: $5.8 billion (3.4%)
7. Footwear: $5.7 billion (3.4%)
8. Ceramic products: $4.6 billion (2.7%)
9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.9 billion (2.3%)
10. Ships, boats: $3.8 billion (2.3%)

The above top 10 product categories represent 75.1% of Italy’s overall product-category surplus subtotal which amounted to $169.9 billion. For that subtotal, 52 of Italy’s 97 general product categories delivered a surplus in 2014 while the remaining 45 categories incurred deficits.

Italy enriched its trade surplus amounts at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014 under the product categories below.

1. Ships, boats: Up 200.6% since 2010 (US$3.8 billion)
2. Leather, animal gut articles: Up 153.3% ($5.8 billion)
3. Clothing (not knit or crochet): Up 74.1% ($6 billion)
4. Footwear: Up 44.6% ($5.7 billion)
5. Beverages, spirits, vinegar: Up 41% ($7.6 billion)
6. Machinery: Up 38.7% ($64.8 billion)
7. Aircraft, spacecraft: Up 27.5% ($3.9 billion)
8. Ceramic products: Up 21.6% ($4.6 billion)
9. Articles of iron or steel: Up 20.8% ($14.6 billion)
10. Furniture, lighting , signs: Up 13.4% ($10.6 billion)

From the perspective of the more detailed 4-digit harmonized tariff system (HTS) level, below are 15 products that enabled Italy to achieve the highest surpluses in its international trade with other countries.

1. Automobile parts/accessories: US$7.6 billion
2. Medication mixes in dosage: $7.2 billion
3. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $6.9 billion
4. Miscellaneous furniture: $6.6 billion
5. Wine: $6.4 billion
6. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $6.3 billion
7. Processed petroleum oils: $5.9 billion
8. Footwear (leather): $5.8 billion
9. Jewelry: $5.6 billion
10. Miscellaneous machinery: $4.7 billion
11. Cases, handbags, wallets: $4.6 billion
12. Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes: $3.5 billion
13. Temperature-change machines: $3.3 billion
14. Air or vacuum pumps: $3.2 billion
15. Other animal leather: $3 billion

Among these, medication mixes in dosage had the fastest-growing Italian surplus with a 2,610% gain since 2010. In second place were cases, handbags and wallets up 186.5% while exported leather footwear moved ahead in value by 45.6%.

Presented in descending order, the following list shows with which trade partners Italy earned the highest trade surpluses in 2014.

1. United States: US$23 billion (16% of Italian country-specific surpluses)
2. France: $15.1 billion (10.5%)
3. United Kingdom: $14.4 billion (10%)
4. Switzerland: $11.4 billion (7.9%)
5. Hong Kong: $6.9 billion (4.8%)
6. United Arab Emirates: $6.2 billion (4.3%)
7. Turkey: $5.4 billion (3.7%)
8. Poland: $4.2 billion (2.9%)
9. Australia: $4.1 billion (2.9%)
10. Japan: $3.5 billion (2.5%)

The above 10 trade partners represent 65.7% of Italy’s subtotal surplus of $143.4 billion from the 155 geographic entities with which Italy demonstrated competitive trade advantages.That subtotal excludes the 70 trade partners with which Italy incurred trade deficits.

Italy enriched its trade surplus amounts with the countries below at the fastest-pace during 2010 to 2014.

1. Sao Tome/Principe: Up 2,950% since 2010 (US$854,000)
2. Saint Helena: Up 2,261% ($779,000)
3. Lesotho: Up 2,214% ($810,000)
4. Palau: Up 1,749% ($758,000)
5. Montserrat: Up 1,543% ($1.6 million)
6. Tokelau: Up 997.4% ($428,000)
7. Grenada: Up 996.3% ($8.9 million)
8. Guatemala: Up 771.9% ($58.9 million)
9. Myanmar (Burma): Up 767.2% ($110.3 million)
10. Macao: Up 595.7% ($193.8 million)

From the above list, Italy showed major product supply advantages over trade partners with comparatively small populations and for generally small surplus amounts.

Below are the products that gave Italy the highest surpluses in its international trade with the United States.

1. Cars: US$1.8 billion (7.8% of Italy’s surplus versus United States)
2. Wine: $1.4 billion (6.2%)
3. Footwear (leather): $1 billion (4.4%)
4. Engines (diesel): $933.5 million (4.1%)
5. Cruise/cargo ships, barges: $672.1 million (2.9%)
6. Automobile parts/accessories: $660 million (2.9%)
7. Miscellaneous furniture: $654.8 million (2.9%)
8. Cases, handbags, wallets: $637.5 million (2.8%)
9. Spectacles, goggles: $621.6 million (2.7%)
10. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $617.6 million (2.7%)

Among these, cars had the fastest-growing Italian surplus with the US posting a 168.7% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were diesel engines up 148.4% followed by spectacles and goggles ahead by 37.1%.

Below are the products that gave Italy the highest surpluses in its international trade with France.

1. Footwear (leather): US$1.2 billion (8.2% of Italy’s surplus versus France)
2. Miscellaneous furniture: $959.5 million (6.4%)
3. Aircraft parts: $750.5 million (5%)
4. Trucks: $689.9 million (4.6%)
5. Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs): $660 million (4.4%)
6. Automobile parts/accessories: $641.4 million (4.3%)
7. Glazed ceramic tiles, cubes: $550.8 million (3.7%)
8. Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels: $547.6 million (3.6%)
9. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $499.8 million (3.3%)
10. Miscellaneous iron or steel items: $497.4 million (3.3%)

Among these, pleasure boats including yachts had the fastest-growing Italian surplus with France posting a 589.6% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were Italian trucks up 36% followed by leather footwear ahead by 15.4%.

Below are the products that gave Italy the highest surpluses in its international trade with the United Kingdom.

1. Wine: US$871.7 million (6.1% of Italy’s surplus versus UK)
2. Automobile parts/accessories: $797.4 million (5.5%)
3. Miscellaneous furniture: $720.5 million (5%)
4. Footwear (leather): $478.1 million (3.3%)
5. Trucks: $452.9 million (3.1%)
6. Pasta, couscous: $417.4 million (2.9%)
7. Cases, handbags, wallets: $398.1 million (2.8%)
8. Medication mixes in dosage: $396.2 million (2.8%)
9. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $349.5 million (2.4%)
10. Tomatoes (prepared/preserved): $309.6 million (2.2%)

Among these, medication mixes in dosage had the fastest-growing Italian surplus with the UK posting a 205.5% gain from 2010 to 2014. In second place were trucks up 70.9% followed by Cases, handbags and wallets ahead by 41%.