| Italy is a forward-looking country with a dynamic | | | | developed northern region. |
| 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 |
| customers with sales of goods worth just over 9 | | | | receives financial aid from the EU. To this extent, the |
| billion pounds in 2008. Meanwhile, UK sales to Italy | | | | freight industry is held back and it is not at the |
| were worth over 13 billion pounds in the same period. | | | | 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 shipping | | | | Italy has fewer world-class multinationals than other |
| companies with expertise in arranging services | | | | economies of its size, but there are a large number |
| between Italy and England.in 2008, Italy was the | | | | of small and medium sized businesses, and in the |
| seventh-largest economy in the world and the | | | | North, there are many companies involved in industrial |
| fourth-largest in Europe. | | | | and machinery production. This has led to a |
| After the second world war, Italy changed from | | | | manufacturing industry focused on exports of niche |
| being a farming based economy which had been | | | | and luxury products. Shipping companies have been |
| severely affected by the results of the war, into an | | | | keen to attract business from these kind of |
| important industrialised economy and a leader in | | | | businesses and they comprise 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 nation, and, according to | | | | Italy's major exports and freight cargo by sector are |
| The Economist, has the world's 8th highest quality of | | | | motor vehicles, chemicals, electrical engineering, home |
| life. The country has an especially high standard of | | | | appliances, aerospace and defence technologies, |
| living, and is the world's 18th most developed | | | | firearms, fashion, food processing, sport and luxury |
| country, higher than Germany, United Kingdom and | | | | vehicles. The automotive industry is the fifth largest |
| Greece. Consequently, Italian buyers are sophisticated | | | | automobile producer in Europe. There are therefore |
| and demanding, especially in terms of quality. They | | | | many international freight forwarding options for cars |
| therefore have a taste for good quality and | | | | and other vehicles. |
| innovative imports from the United Kingdom, | | | | It is a surprising fact that Italy is the world's sixth |
| especially in technology and quality consumer goods. | | | | highest exporter. |
| Some up-market fashionable British brands are also in | | | | Contributing to this, Italy is an important fresh food |
| demand in Italy as imports.The customer base of | | | | exporter. Italy is the largest kiwifruit, grape and |
| shipping companies to Italy reflects this. | | | | artichoke producer worldwide. The country also |
| Despite this, Italy's economy suffers from many | | | | exports and produces more wine than anywhere else |
| problems. After strong expansion between | | | | worldwide. |
| 1964-1988,the last decade's average annual growth | | | | Italy's closest trade ties are with the other countries |
| rate has fallen behind the European average. What's | | | | of the EU, with whom it conducts about 60% of its |
| more, Italian living standards show a considerable | | | | total international trade. Italy's largest European Union, |
| north-south divide. The average GDP per capita in | | | | in order of market share, are Germany, France and |
| Northern Italy may far exceed the EU average, | | | | Spain followed by the UK. So the international freight |
| whilst some regions and provinces in Southern Italy | | | | infrastructure linking these countries is very robust |
| are well below the EU average. Italy is sometimes | | | | and a freight forwarding will be guaranteed a high |
| called the sick man of Europe. Freight transport | | | | level of service. |
| options are correspondingly more available in the | | | | |