Confindustria: Italian exports to Mercosur can double to 14 billion

For the export of Made in Italy in Mercosur "the margin for growth is still significant: at full capacity, we conservatively estimate that Italian exports to the area could reach 14 billion euros, almost doubling the current value. This is how a trade agreement moves from paper to the real economy: new markets, contracts, investments, exports and work". The general director of Confindustria, Maurizio Tarquini, highlights this on the occasion of the system's entrepreneurial mission to Argentina and Brazil, from 6 September, after the institutional visit from 3 to 6 September led in Uruguay by vice-president Barbara Cimmino.

"The numbers - he highlights - already show the potential of these markets: in 2025 Italian exports to Mercosur reached 7.5 billion euros and, in May 2026, they grew by 21.1% compared to the same month of the previous year". An immediate confirmation of the opportunities linked to the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, signed immediately before.

"Italian exports continue to grow", underlines the general director of Viale dell'Astronomia more generally: "Despite global tensions and a complex geopolitical framework, in the first half of 2026 they reached 337 billion euros, 4.5% more than in the same period last year". It is "a result built by our companies in conditions that are anything but simple. But to continue to grow - he warns - we need to look beyond, diversify the outlet markets and create new opportunities also through trade agreements such as the one between the European Union and Mercosur".

"It is with this objective", continues Tarquini, that "the entrepreneurial mission in Argentina and Brazil begins, the result of an extraordinary commitment and intense preparation and coordination work on the part of Confindustria and the Ice Agency". There is the government, with ministers Antonio Tajani and Giuseppe Valditara. And there is the entire support system for Italian companies that focus on foreign markets.

There are "over 100 Italian companies in the agri-food, machinery and plant engineering, pharmaceutical-medical, digital technologies and energy transition sectors" which, Tarquini further indicates, "will meet their local counterparts in an intense B2B program, to transform the opportunities offered by the agreement into new commercial and industrial relationships".

The Confindustria delegation arriving in Argentina and Brazil is significant. It is led by president Emanuele Orsini, with a broad representation of the top management and the industrial representation system: the vice presidents Barbara Cimmino, Fausto Bianchi (president of the Small Industry of Confindustria), Riccardo Di Stefano, Aurelio Regina, Annalisa Sassi (president of the council of regional representatives), the special advisor for artificial intelligence Alberto Tripi, the dg Tarquini. Also present were the president of Ice-Agenzia Matteo Zoppas, the CEOs. by Sace Michele Pignotti and Simest Regina Corradini D'Arienzo. Also with representatives of Abi, for the banks, and of Cdp.