India had a favourable trade balance with Italy for the financial year 1997-98 with a trade surplus of Rs 6,648.58 million with exports exceeding imports by 19 per cent.

Indian export items which showed an uptrend in 1997-98 were primary and semi-finished iron and steel, plastic and linoleum products, leather garments, transport equipment and manmade yarns.

Export items that declined were marine products, raw cotton and ores and minerals. India's major exports to Italy continue to be cotton yarn fabrics and readymade garments.

Italian imports that showed an upward trend were transport equipment, professional instruments (excluding electronics), leather, electrical machinery and textile fabric. Downtrend items were project goods, organic chemicals and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.

(Source:Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry)