Foreign trade

Bergamo's economy generates a high volume of gross exports, with high export propensity. In 2018 exports from the province were worth over 16 million euros, and the export propensity rate (share of exports over GPD) was around 40%, close to that of Germany and higher than both the Italian and the European average values. Bergamo's rate surpasses that of Milan and the Lombardy average value.

The evolution of Bergamo's exports has been remarkable in recent years. In 1991 they amounted to nearly 3 million euros, in 2000 they reached 8,5 million with an annual growth rate of 11.9% in nominal terms. Between 2000 and 2007 they continued to grow at a rate of 6% per year, reaching nearly 13 million euros. Between 2000 and 2013 the export propensity of the province increased from 34.4% in 2000 to 39.1% in 2011. 

The analysis of the economic structure reveals that only seven activities account for 76% of the value of exports in the province of Bergamo. The two activities with the greatest share in exports are machinery and equipment with around 26% and chemical products at 13%. Both of them are classified by OECD and Eurostat as medium-high technology manufacturing activities, and together they account for almost 40% of exports. Another five activities, which combine medium-high to medium-low technology, account for between 5 and 10% of the value of exports: basic metals, rubber and plastic, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, and metal products.