| Italy is a forward-looking country with a dynamic | | | | numerous in the developed north. |
| freight transport sector, which supports its imports | | | | The Italian economy is undermined by lack of |
| and exports activity. | | | | infrastructure development, market reform |
| The United Kingdom is one of Italy's largest export | | | | programmes and investment in research. Italy still |
| markets with sales of goods worth just over 9 billion | | | | receives financial aid from the EU. To this extent, the |
| pounds in 2008. Meanwhile, UK sales to Italy were | | | | freight industry is held back and it is not at the |
| valued at 13 billion pounds in the same year. | | | | cutting edge in the same way as it is in countries like |
| So freight forwarding between the two countries is a | | | | Sweden. |
| well oiled machine, and there are many freight | | | | Italy has fewer global multinational companies than |
| companies with expertise in arranging services | | | | other economies of its size, but there are a large |
| between Italy and England.in 2008, Italy was the | | | | number of small and medium sized businesses, and in |
| seventh-largest economy in the world and the | | | | the North, there are many companies involved in |
| fourth-largest in Europe. | | | | industrial and machinery production. This has led to a |
| After the second world war, Italy changed from | | | | manufacturing industry focused on exports of niche |
| being an agriculture based economy which had been | | | | and luxury products. Freight forwarders have been |
| very badly affected by the results of the war, into a | | | | keen to attract custom from these kind of |
| major industrialised economy and a leader in | | | | businesses and they make up the vast majority of |
| international trade. The freight services sector in Italy | | | | the customer base of an average Italian shipping |
| has developed in tandem. | | | | company or freight company. |
| Italy is a highly developed country, and, according to | | | | Italy's most important exports and freight cargo by |
| The Economist, has the world's eighth highest quality | | | | sector are motor vehicles, chemicals, electrical |
| of life. The country enjoys an especially high standard | | | | engineering, home appliances, aerospace and defence |
| of living, and is the world's 18th most developed | | | | technologies, firearms, fashion, food processing, sport |
| country, higher than Germany, UK and Greece. As a | | | | and luxury vehicles. The automotive industry is the |
| result, Italian consumers are sophisticated and | | | | fifth largest automobile producer in Europe. There are |
| demanding, especially in terms of quality. They | | | | thus many international freight transport options for |
| therefore have a taste for good quality and market | | | | cars and other vehicles. |
| leading imports from the UK, especially in technology | | | | It is a surprising fact that Italy is the world's 6th |
| and quality consumer goods. Some up-market | | | | highest exporter. |
| fashionable UK brands are also in demand in Italy as | | | | Contributing to this, Italy is an important agricultural |
| imports.The client of shipping companies to Italy | | | | exporter. Italy is the largest kiwifruit, grape and |
| reflects this. | | | | artichoke producer in the world. The country also |
| Despite this, Italy's economy suffers from many | | | | exports and produces more wine than anywhere else |
| problems. After strong growth between | | | | in the world. |
| 1964-1988,the last ten years' average yearly growth | | | | Italy's closest trade ties are with the other countries |
| rate has fallen behind the European average. What's | | | | of the European Union, with whom it conducts about |
| more, Italian living standards reflect a considerable | | | | 60% of its total international trade. Italy's largest |
| north-south divide. The average Gross Domestic | | | | European Union, in order of market share, are |
| Product per capita in Northern Italy may far exceed | | | | Germany, France and Spain followed by the UK. So |
| the EU average, whilst some regions and provinces in | | | | the international freight infrastructure linking these |
| Southern Italy are well below the European average. | | | | countries is very robust and a freight forwarding will |
| Italy is sometimes called the sick man of Europe. | | | | be guaranteed a high level of service. |
| Freight transport options are correspondingly more | | | | |