Industry in Italy and its specialization

The industry of Italy is the leading branch of the economy of the state. This share accounts for more than 28% of the total local GDP. Moreover, almost half of all working people are involved here. If we talk about the industrial structure of Italian industry, then by 76% it is a manufacturing sector.

Mechanical engineering

The machine building industry in Italy is considered one of the most important and most dynamic sectors of the country's economy. Most recently, its main centers were Turin, Milan and Genoa. At present, this sphere has spread to other regions of the state. Now considerable engineering capacities are in Florence, Venice, Bologna and Trieste. The key direction of this industry was the automotive industry. Annually, the state produces about two million cars, as well as a huge number of mopeds, motorcycles and bicycles. The leading role here is played by the concern Fiat. Its headquarters is located in the city of Turin, and production capacity - in virtually all regions of the country. In Lombard cities, Naples and Turin, the production of air transport is established, while the shipbuilding industry in Italy is concentrated in Genoa, Livorno, Spice and Trieste.

Power generation

Annually, the state produces about 190 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Almost 65% of this amount falls on thermal power plants, which are located in the largest cities. They function both on their own and on imported raw materials. A little less than one third of the electricity is generated by hydroelectric power stations built on the Alpine rivers. The rest of the share falls on objects from the sphere of alternative energy. An interesting feature of the industry is that no nuclear power plant operates in the state, which was the result of a nationwide referendum held in 1987.

Oil industry

The country is quite poor in minerals, including black gold. Here it is mined in an insignificant amount (totaling about 1.5 million tons per year) in Lombardy, Sicily and on the shelf of the Adriatic Sea. The specialization of such an industry in Italy, as oil refining on imported raw materials, does not prevent it from outrunning other Western European states in volume. Most of the factories that operate in the field are concentrated in the port areas. It is here that the raw materials come from the Middle East, Russia and some North African countries. However, thanks to the developed network of oil pipelines, such enterprises successfully operate in other regions.

Metallurgy

Nor does the Italian metallurgical industry have its own sources of raw materials. Similar to the above-mentioned industries, the sphere is import-oriented, therefore its key enterprises are concentrated in the area of large ports. Processing plants of ferrous metallurgy work mainly in large industrial cities, where metal scrap is accumulated in significant volumes. The country pays annually about 250 thousand tons of aluminum and about 25 million tons of steel. They focus on the factories that are nearby sources of electricity - Alpine hydroelectric power station.

Light industry

Far from being the biggest, but extremely important branch of the economy of the state is Italy's light industry. It is represented, as a rule, by small companies scattered throughout the territory. The country has become one of the world leaders in terms of the volume of manufacturing woolen fabrics, surpassing in this indicator only China. At a high level of development is the textile industry, the main production facilities of which are concentrated in the northern regions - Piemonte and Lombardy. The northwestern regions of the state, in particular Tuscany, Marche and Veneto, are the centers of the shoe, leather and garment industry. One of the few areas for which constant growth is characteristic is the food industry, operating both on imported and on its own raw materials. The volume of production here annually increases by an average of 3%. The specialization of Italian industry in this direction is largely connected with the production of olive oil. The country accounts for about one third of its output throughout the world.

Chemical industry

Initially, the production of chemical products in Italy originated in the territory of Lombardy. This can explain the fact that it is here that most of the factories and enterprises that specialize in this area are located. The industry operates mainly on imported oil, phosphorite, cellulose, sulfur and other raw materials. In the area of the city of Trieste in the north-east, petrochemical specialization enterprises are concentrated, and in the south - companies engaged in the production of mineral fertilizers. International specialization of the Italian industry in the field of chemistry is mainly associated with the production of polymers and synthetic fibers. At a fairly high level of development is the production of traditional inorganic substances - pesticides, nitric and sulfuric acid, chlorine, and also caustic soda.

The sale of the industry's products is focused primarily on satisfying the needs of its own industry. Together with this part of it is exported to the US and the countries of the so-called common market.

Conclusion

In this article, the Italian industry briefly describes only its main branches. In many other areas of activity since the post-war years, the state has also made a significant breakthrough. Among them, it should be noted the electrical and furniture industry, the production of luxury goods, weapons, as well as the bioindustry.