Italy Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in italy, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Design and Construction
Last published date:

Overview

Italy ranks as the 12th largest construction market globally outside the United States. U.S. building products have a strong reputation for quality and reliability in Italy. However, they do not always meet Italian expectations for aesthetic design—a top priority, even for components typically hidden from view. Italy’s design and construction sector sees itself as a global leader, on par with the U.S., and often seeks innovative or distinctive products and solutions. The Italian construction industry is expected to contract by 9.2% in 2025, following a 0.6% decline in December 2024. According to the National Association of Building Contractors (ANCE), investment in residential construction dropped 21.3% in 2024 after growing 5% in 2023.

At the same time, public infrastructure and building investment rose 16% in 2025. ANCE attributes this growth partly to increased local government spending and partly to funding from the EU-backed National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which aims to jumpstart post-pandemic recovery. The NRRP allocates $114.5 billion (€108 billion) for construction and related sectors through 2026, with 45% of that spending managed by local governments. Much of the 25% growth in public works investment stems from NRRP-funded tenders issued in 2022 that have now moved into the execution phase. Italy’s 2022 budget law added another $42 billion (€39.6 billion) in long-term public works spending over 15 years to complement NRRP projects and address unmet infrastructure needs. Of that, $11.4 billion (€10.8 billion) is earmarked for rail infrastructure and $10.6 billion (€10 billion) for roads.

Separate from the NRRP, the government has revived a major infrastructure project: construction of a 3.4-kilometer bridge connecting Sicily to mainland Italy. The original tender, canceled in 2012, has been reactivated with construction expected to begin in 2026. The project is estimated to cost more than $14.8 billion (€14 billion). While a prime contractor has been selected, subcontracting and support services opportunities remain open. The government has also committed $6.4 billion (€6 billion) to rebuild areas of central Italy damaged by a series of earthquakes since 2009. Italy offers a competitive landscape. The country has a strong base of high-end manufacturers and easy access to competitively priced products from across Europe and beyond. For U.S. suppliers, competing in Italy means overcoming shipping and regulatory hurdles, while proving superior product performance and after-sales service. U.S. firms can succeed by offering unique, innovative solutions—and by engaging directly with distributors and buyers to build relationships and demonstrate product value. 

Opportunities

Stadiums and Sport Facilities 

Italy’s soccer stadiums are showing their age—on average, they are 64 years old, well past retirement age for many Europeans. Most were built or renovated for the 1990 World Cup, and some date back even further. According to the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), which oversees the country’s soccer leagues, Italy urgently needs to upgrade the majority of its sports facilities.

Few stadiums offer modern amenities. Most lack skyboxes or premium seating, and only 59% of seats are covered. As a result, the match-day experience and revenue lag other major European leagues. More than a dozen new stadium projects have been announced but remain in early planning or construction phases. These include high-profile developments in Rome (led by AS Roma) and Milan (a joint project between AC Milan and Inter Milan). If completed as planned, the projects could increase total ticket capacity by 2.7 million and create nearly 10,000 jobs.

Italy is also set to co-host the 2032 UEFA European Championship with Türkiye. However, only one stadium - Juventus’s Allianz Stadium in Turin - currently meets UEFA’s minimum standards. To retain its share of the tournament, Italy must build or upgrade at least five stadiums. If not, the matches will shift to Türkiye. This wave of redevelopment presents potential opportunities for U.S. firms. These include companies in stadium and live entertainment management, sports-focused architecture, construction, security and crowd-flow technologies, and suppliers of specialized building materials and equipment.


Still, U.S. businesses should expect longer timelines and complex approval processes. Public investment decisions in Italy often involve multiple layers of government and extended deliberation. That challenge is compounded by the fact that only five professional teams in Italy’s top two leagues own their stadiums. The rest are owned—and managed—by local municipalities.

Port Infrastructure 

Italy plans to invest €9.8 billion (previously €9.2 billion) to modernize and expand capacity at its ports by 2026. The government aims to accommodate larger ships at key container ports by dredging waterways, constructing new breakwaters, and enhancing connections to road and rail networks. Additional funds will support digital upgrades to boost port efficiency and security. U.S. companies offering innovative transportation and logistics solutions stand to benefit from this surge in public investment. Opportunities exist for firms with products, services, and expertise that improve operational intelligence and energy efficiency in the sector. 

Resources  

SAIE (October 23-25, 2025, Bari) - one of Italy’s two main construction industry trade shows; held in October in Bologna in even numbered years and in Bari in odd numbered years. 

ME- MADE Expo (November 19-22, 2025, Milan) – one of Italy’s two main construction industry trade shows that attracts international exhibitors; biannual show, usually held in odd-numbered years.  
MCE Expocomfort.(March 24-27, 2026, Milan) - leading trade show dedicated to residential and industrial HVAC-R solutions.  

CERSAIE (September 21-25, 2026, Bologna) - International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings (CERSAIE) important ceramic tile industry trade show; main and historical focus is ceramics, but also covers sectors of surfaces and wall coverings, bathroom furnishings, and architectural finishes
 

U.S. Commercial Service Italy: 
Joshua Lawrence, Commercial Specialist 
U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Consulate Milan 
Tel: +39 02 6268 8539 
E-mail: joshua.lawrence@trade.gov

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility