Enterprises, Mercosur Mission, new prospects for Italian Companies
Over the course of a five-day initiative organized by Confindustria and the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) across Argentina and Brazil, more than 2,600 B2B meetings took place, and an agenda is already in place for the coming months.
Confindustria leads a delegation of over 90 companies to Argentina and Brazil.
Mercosur: A Market of Over 700 Million Consumers
The combined European Union and Mercosur region represents an integrated market of more than 700 million consumers.
In 2025, Italian exports to the South American bloc reached €7.5 billion, against €6.9 billion in imports.
Brazil and Argentina account for the vast majority of trade: in 2025, Italian exports to these countries reached €5.8 billion and €1.2 billion, respectively.
Early data following the implementation of the EU-Mercosur Agreement indicate a further acceleration in trade.
In May 2026, Italian exports to the region reached €745 million, marking a 21.1% increase compared to the same month in 2025.
At full capacity, according to available estimates, Italian exports to Mercosur could reach up to €14 billion.
EU-Mercosur Agreement: new opportunities for Italian businesses
The progressive liberalization of trade opens up new prospects for the presence of Italian companies in South America.
The Agreement provides for the elimination of tariffs on 91% of customs codes by Mercosur countries and on 95% by the European Union, alongside greater access to public procurement markets and simplified procedures for SMEs.
For European companies, estimated savings on tariffs amount to approximately €4 billion per year.
This impact is particularly significant for certain “Made in Italy” sectors—previously subject to tariff peaks reaching 35% for agri-food, machinery, and electrical products; 20% for motor vehicles and transport equipment; and 18% for chemicals/pharmaceuticals, rubber/plastics, and optical, medical, and precision instruments.
The Agreement also strengthens the protection of European Geographical Indications—including 57 Italian ones—and introduces specific measures to facilitate operations for small and medium-sized enterprises.
From exports to new value chains
However, the mission aims to go beyond merely increasing trade volumes.
The goal is to strengthen industrial collaboration among Italy, Argentina, and Brazil, fostering the creation of new value chains and partnerships in sectors strategic to competitiveness.
Opportunities include—among others—major infrastructure and energy projects planned in both countries, the energy transition and access to critical minerals, the development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the pharmaceutical and medical sectors, R&D, and human capital development.
Furthermore, Argentina and Brazil are markets where the Italian industrial presence is already significant. Approximately 300 Italian-linked companies operate in Argentina, employing 25,000 people and generating a turnover of around €2 billion.
In Brazil, there are about 1,400 such companies, with a workforce of 150,000 and a turnover of €42 billion.
Strengthening this presence also means creating the conditions for Italian companies to participate in the two countries’ new development projects and—through greater industrial integration—to secure a stronger foothold in Latin American markets.
September 4 and 16, 2026
Source: Confindustria
