Produzione avanti adagio in Lombardia

The Lombard economy experienced steady growth in the second quarter, particularly in industrial production, with a 0.1% increase on a cyclical basis, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of recovery since late 2024. Manufacturing output also expanded, growing 1.4% compared to the previous quarter and 4.4% year-on-year. Overall, the percentage of surveyed businesses reporting stable or increasing production rose from 58% to 67% between the second quarter of 2025 and 2026.

Only a third of the 1,500+ sampled firms reported a contraction. Orders were also positive, particularly the foreign component, with a 2.5% increase quarter-over-quarter and 6.7% year-over-year. Internal market orders grew by 0.5% on a cyclical basis. Employment increased slightly in the second quarter, though still modestly. Net business lending by firms remained low.

The most struggling sectors were textiles and wood-mobility, using extensive CIG (Credit Integration Guarantee) facilities. Transport services showed the best performance, confirming a positive trend from the previous survey. The chemicals industry showed the highest annual revenue growth (+9.3%). The clothing sector suffered from rising raw material prices, which rose by more than 11% on average across the sample, representing a significant increase (+8.4%) compared to the previous data.

Generally, the industrial sector's resilience was maintained, with ten out of thirteen monitored sectors showing progress, even when considering the expectations of Lombard industrial businesses, which reflected a more optimistic outlook, particularly regarding production, revenue, and foreign demand. Areas of concern for businesses, shared by artisans, included potential further increases in energy and raw material costs, as well as worsening geopolitical tensions.

Giuseppe Pasini of Confindustria Lombardia and Gian Domenico Auricchio of Unioncamere Lombardia emphasized the need for more robust and structural industrial policies, while Guido Guidesi of the Lombard Economic Development Minister highlighted the role of Lombard territories and businesses in driving growth despite complex international conditions.