Italy retains top spot as Libya's leading trade partner in Q1 2025 despite dip
While the overall figure marked a 5.4% year-over-year decline, Italy remained ahead of other major economic partners, including Germany (€1.36B), China (€1.11B), Greece (€859M), and Turkey (€840M)—cementing its commercial dominance in North Africa.
Italian exports to Libya totaled €440 million, positioning Italy as the third-largest supplier, behind China (€884M) and Turkey (€750M). The energy sector remained the cornerstone of trade, with refined oil products making up €174 million—about 40% of total exports—despite a 35.2% drop from the previous year.
Italy's mechanical and industrial exports showed notable momentum. Sales of multi-purpose machinery surged 54.5% to €56 million, while electrical equipment soared 79.2% to €55 million, underscoring Italy's growing technological footprint in Libya.
Other sectors also contributed to the upward trend, with automobile exports rising to €16.8 million (up 66.9%), chemical products reaching €14 million (up 36.5%), pharmaceuticals totaling €8.7 million (up 22.9%), and furniture exports climbing to €6.6 million (up 13.1%).
Meanwhile, agri-food exports—once Italy's third-largest export category to Libya—posted €51 million in sales, down 5% from the same period last year.
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Libya Observer
06-07-2025
- Libya Observer
Italy retains top spot as Libya's leading trade partner in Q1 2025 despite dip
Italy held its position as Libya's largest trading partner in the first quarter of 2025, with bilateral trade reaching €2.12 billion, accounting for 18.5% of Libya's total foreign trade, according to Italy's National Institute of Statistics via Nova agency. While the overall figure marked a 5.4% year-over-year decline, Italy remained ahead of other major economic partners, including Germany (€1.36B), China (€1.11B), Greece (€859M), and Turkey (€840M)—cementing its commercial dominance in North Africa. Italian exports to Libya totaled €440 million, positioning Italy as the third-largest supplier, behind China (€884M) and Turkey (€750M). The energy sector remained the cornerstone of trade, with refined oil products making up €174 million—about 40% of total exports—despite a 35.2% drop from the previous year. Italy's mechanical and industrial exports showed notable momentum. Sales of multi-purpose machinery surged 54.5% to €56 million, while electrical equipment soared 79.2% to €55 million, underscoring Italy's growing technological footprint in Libya. Other sectors also contributed to the upward trend, with automobile exports rising to €16.8 million (up 66.9%), chemical products reaching €14 million (up 36.5%), pharmaceuticals totaling €8.7 million (up 22.9%), and furniture exports climbing to €6.6 million (up 13.1%). Meanwhile, agri-food exports—once Italy's third-largest export category to Libya—posted €51 million in sales, down 5% from the same period last year.
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