Libya–Italy trade falls 21% amid drop in oil and gas exports

Trade between Libya and Italy fell sharply in the first half of 2025,with total exchanges amounting to €4.76 billion,down from €6.02 billion in the same period last year — a 21% decline,according to data from the Italian Trade Agency cited by Nova News Agency.

The downturn was primarily driven by a 25.3% drop in Libyan exports to Italy,which fell from €4.25 billion in the first half of 2024 to €3.17 billion this year. Crude oil supplies saw the steepest decline,plunging from €6.5 billion in 2023 to €3.3 billion in mid-2025,with export volumes also down by 15.7%,from 8.97 million tons to 7.56 million tons.

While natural gas exports rose slightly in value by 3% to €267 million,their volume decreased by 4%,reflecting the broader impact of global energy market instability. Italian exports to Libya also recorded a 14.4% decline,reaching around €1.6 billion,as trade between the two countries weakened amid reduced energy flows and lower industrial demand. Despite the contraction,Italy remains one of Libya’s principal trading partners. Analysts note,however,that continued volatility in oil prices and production constraints in Libya are likely to keep bilateral trade under pressure in the coming months.