China’s Market for Italian Companies Amid Global Scenario

From a macroeconomic perspective, China is the world’s second-largest economy, accounting for around 18 per cent of global GDP, with a growth target of 5 per cent for 2025, as stated by Premier Li Qiang during the annual session of the National People’s Congress held in March 2025. Despite the international climate of uncertainty, China remains a strategic commercial partner for Italy and an essential market: it is, in fact, our primary trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

China’s significance for Italian companies lies not only in the sheer size of its domestic market — with around 600 million middle-class consumers — but also in the pivotal role the country plays in global value chains, particularly in sectors such as automotive, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods.

For Italian businesses, the main challenge is to seize the evolution of the Chinese economic model, which is increasingly focused on high-quality consumption, technological innovation, and sustainability. These opportunities remain solid despite the geopolitical backdrop; a recent survey by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China reveals that the majority of Italian companies with investments in the country consider China a priority market in their global strategies.