Sardinia's exports to the United States are moving at two different speeds. While sales by micro, medium, and small businesses are robust, manufacturing sales are plummeting.
In the first half of this year , sales of goods and products from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and artisanal businesses to the US grew by 5.6%, compared to the same period in 2024 , reaching €138 million in value, representing 0.36% of the regional GDP. In 2024, by contrast, sales had slowed by 1.7%, again compared to the same period in 2023. Thus, the market for food, wood and metal products, leather goods, clothing and textiles, furniture and ceramics, as well as semi-finished stone products, chemical products, machinery and equipment, has held up to Trump's economic policies.
Conversely, manufacturing exports, including refining and fuel production, are collapsing, dropping 44.9% compared to 2024. These activities have been impacted by tariffs, restrictions, bureaucracy, political turbulence, and significant competition from other countries around the world.
This is what emerges from the dossier prepared by the Research Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna based on Istat data , which analyzed the trade flows of island businesses.
For small business sales, the national ranking, in terms of percentage increase, is led by Sicily's 21.8% increase, with sales of €208 million, compared to the national average of -1.6%, for a value of over €17 billion. In absolute terms, Lombardy posted sales of €4.3 billion, and Tuscany and Veneto posted sales of nearly €3 billion.
Also for small and medium-sized enterprises, provincial data shows that the Sassari-Gallura area exported 83 million euros worth of products to the USA, an increase of 0.6%. Nuoro follows with 35 million euros (+2.7%), Southern Sardinia with 9 million euros (+46.2%), Cagliari and Oristano with 6 million euros (+50.6 and +26.4%).
"These are absolutely positive figures for exports by small Sardinian businesses," comments Giacomo Meloni, president of Confartigianato Sardegna , "because they demonstrate that the United States appreciates our small but sophisticated products, especially food products. However," Meloni adds, "we must be honest and say that the increase is also the result of US importers anticipating purchases to avoid tariffs, and this situation does not give us peace of mind for the future."
"Sardinian agri-food and other high-quality artisanal products are particularly sensitive to trade with the US," he continues. "Therefore, the island needs to continue to work in the food market and other sectors of excellence, which have ample room for growth, considering that exports of Sardinian products from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent only 0.8% of the total value of Made in Italy food exports . The Americans recognize the value of our products and remain a key partner for the region's economic development, making it essential to maintain and strengthen trade relations with one of the main drivers of the global economy, whose contribution fosters the well-being of the community."
"This is why we hope we can soon return to dialogue and multilateralism. We need to overcome the nightmare of customs duties and instead expand opportunities to create wealth through exports, especially agri-food exports . Above all, as we have always reiterated, it is essential, fundamental, and urgent for our businesses to look beyond our borders to do business," Meloni concludes. "We must continue our commitment to immediately boost growth, promote local excellence, and support entrepreneurial efforts through a mix of incoming and export initiatives and training."
(Unioneonline)
