This study analyses global trade in low-carbon technology (LCT) products that will play a crucial role in the transition toward a more sustainable economy, e.g. in the areas of renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency improvement, sustainable mobility, and waste management. It includes an assessment of Italy's competitive position in these products, also based on firm-level data.
Global trade in LCT products is growing strongly; their share of total exports has reached 6.5 per cent. China is the country with the largest trade surplus. Italy's trade balance in these products has gradually deteriorated, due to a growing deficit in the battery and sustainable mobility sectors. A quarter of Italian exporters sold at least one LCT product abroad in 2021.
