Italy’s trade balance recorded a €4.23 billion surplus in June 2026, with both exports and imports increasing on a monthly and annual basis, according to seasonally adjusted data.Exports rose 1.6% m/m, while imports increased by 1.2%. The stronger export performance was driven primarily by trade with EU countries, where exports jumped 6.7%, while shipments to non-EU countries declined 3.6%.On the import side, incoming flows increased from both EU and non-EU markets, rising 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively. The latest figures also point to stronger trade activity over the second quarter. Compared with the previous three-month period, seasonally adjusted exports increased 2.2%, while imports recorded a considerably stronger 5.4% rise.On an annual basis, trade flows accelerated further. Exports in June were 9.8% higher than in the same month of 2025, while imports increased 13.2%. Export growth was particularly strong within the EU, with outgoing flows rising 15.1% year-on-year. Exports to non-EU countries increased at a more moderate 4.1%.Imports showed the opposite pattern, with incoming flows from non-EU countries jumping 18.7%, compared with a 9.1% increase from EU countries. Despite imports growing faster than exports over the year, Italy maintained a substantial trade surplus in June.The overall surplus stood at €4.23 billion, consisting of a €1.58 billion surplus with EU countries and a €2.66 billion surplus with non-EU countries. Excluding energy products, Italy's trade surplus was considerably larger, reaching €9.23 billion, highlighting the continued strength of the country's underlying goods trade position.Import prices fell 1.3% m/m in June. Prices for imports from the euro area were unchanged, while prices from non-euro-area countries declined 2.6%. The quarterly picture was different. Over the three months to June, import prices increased 5.0% compared with the previous three-month period, driven by a 7.4% increase in prices from non-euro-area countries and a 2.5% rise for the euro area.On an annual basis, import prices were 4.9% higher than in June 2025. Prices increased 3.0% for euro-area imports and 6.6% for imports from outside the euro area. Overall, June's data point to robust growth in Italian trade flows, with exports continuing to expand and the country maintaining a sizeable external surplus. This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta at investinglive.com.