Two-way investment brief

Australia–Italy

At the end of 2025, investors from Italy held A$887 m of direct investment in Australia, making it Australia’s 29th-largest source of foreign direct investment (0.1% of the total). That stock fell 11.0% over the year. Australian direct investment in Italy was A$276 m — the 31st-largest destination for Australian direct investment abroad. The relationship is weighted towards Italy investing in Australia (3.2× Australia’s direct investment there). Italy was Australia’s 32nd-largest two-way trading partner in 2025 (goods and services, A$3.1 bn; 0.2% of Australia’s trade). Globally, Italy was the world’s 14th-largest source of FDI outflows in 2024 ($45.9 bn, World Bank).

Data (CSV)Italy global profile

Italy direct investment in Australia

A$887 m

−11.0%vs 202429th largest

Total Italy investment in Australia

A$7.8 bn

32nd largest · 0.2%

Australian direct investment in Italy

A$276 m

+19.5%vs 202431st largest destination

Total Australian investment in Italy

A$17.4 bn

Levels at 31 Dec 2025

Trend

Direct investment in both directions

Direct investment levels, Australia–Italy

Italy in Australia
Australia in Italy

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Italy’s investment in Australia by type

Direct investment
Portfolio investment
Other investment

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Annual direct investment flows

Net transactions during the year; negative = net disinvestment

Italy → Australia
Australia → Italy

Source: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (5352.0).

Trade relationship

Australia–Italy trade

Investment and trade move together: the partners that invest most in Australia are usually major trading partners too. Goods trade is recorded monthly (latest: July 2026); services annually.

Two-way trade, 2025

A$3.1 bn

32nd largest partner · 0.2%

Goods exports to Italy, 2025

—

Goods imports from Italy, 2025

—

Services trade, 2025

A$3.1 bn

Exports A$756 m · imports A$2.3 bn

Goods trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS merchandise trade)

Exports to Italy
Imports from Italy

Source: ABS, International Merchandise Trade (MERCH_EXP / MERCH_IMP), summed to calendar years.

Services trade

Calendar years, A$ (ABS international trade in services by country)

Exports to Italy
Imports from Italy

Source: ABS, International Trade in Services by Country, calendar years.

Economic outlook

Italy’s economy

IMF World Economic Outlook	2024	2025	2026forecast	2027forecast	2028forecast
Real GDP growth	0.8%	0.5%	0.5%	0.5%	0.8%
Inflation	1.1%	1.6%	2.6%	2.4%	2.3%
Unemployment rate	6.6%	6.1%	6.0%	6.1%	6.0%
Current account, % GDP	1.1%	1.2%	0.6%	1.1%	1.5%
Fiscal balance, % GDP	−3.4%	−3.1%	−2.8%	−2.6%	−2.4%
Government gross debt, % GDP	134.7%	137.1%	138.4%	138.8%	137.6%

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook via the IMF DataMapper API. Years from 2026 are IMF projections; recent years may be estimates and are revised in each WEO round (April and October).

2025 at a glance

New FDI from Italy: A$36 m
New Australian FDI in Italy: A$53 m
Direct investment income paid to investors: —
Direct investment income earned by Australians: —

Italy globally (World Bank)

FDI outflows, 2024: $45.9 bn · 14th
FDI inflows, 2025: $883 m
GDP, 2025: $2.55 tn
Region · income: Europe & Central Asia · High income

Regulatory openness (OECD FDIRRI)

OECD index data loading — see FDI openness

Sources: ABS, International Investment Position, Australia: Supplementary Statistics (cat. 5352.0), 2025 release, released 2026-05-06 — levels at 31 December and calendar-year flows and income, A$ millions, immediate counterparty basis (investment routed via third economies is attributed to the intermediate economy). World Bank WDI (US$). OECD FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index. np = not published for confidentiality; included in totalsPrepared independently by FDIstats from public statistics; not an Australian Government publication and not investment advice. For foreign investment rules, see the Treasury and FIRB.