{
  "id": 4090079,
  "title": "Arezzo, dai gioielli etruschi a leader dell’export di lingotti",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/arezzo-dai-gioielli-etruschi-a-leader-dellexport-di-lingotti",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-29T03:06:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Il Sole 24 Ore",
    "slug": "il-sole-24-ore",
    "url": "https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/arezzo-gioielli-etruschi-leader-dell-export-lingotti-AJySJgx"
  },
  "original_language": "it",
  "account": "In the town of Arezzo, a quiet yet strategic challenge is underway, rooted in an industry dating back 100 years to the Gori&Zucchi company, which later evolved into the current UnoArezzo. This challenge encompasses digital, energy, and environmental aspects, essentially a \"productive transition.\" The historic industry of jewelry-making is shrinking, with export revenues soaring from 3.9 billion to 8 billion euros in 2024, driven by rising gold prices and Turkish purchases of semi-processed Arezzo goods due to tax regulation changes. However, once the regulation altered, the industry declined due to global competition and the ongoing Middle East conflict.\n\nMeanwhile, a largely unseen industry, focused on refining and investment gold bullion production from industrial waste and scrap, exploded in 2025, reaching an export of 11 billion euros, a 128% increase. Four of the top 15 Tuscan companies by revenue in 2025 are involved in bullion production: Italpreziosi (5.9 billion in revenue, +50% from 2024, net profit of 5.2 million and 96 employees), Chimet (5.7 billion in revenue, steady from 2024, net profit of 5.7 million and 150 employees), Tca (2.4 billion in revenue, 3.8 million in net profit, and 150 employees), and Safimet (1.3 billion in revenue, 6.3 million in net profit, and 70 employees). Altogether, these four family-owned companies account for 15.2 billion in export revenue and 470 employees.\n\nIn the first quarter of 2026, the jewelry industry saw a further 49% decline in foreign sales, sparking alarm among businesses and workers. At the same time, the export of gold bullion surged from nearly 2 billion euros to over 6 billion in just three months, driven by the increasing gold price. The \"skill of craftsmanship\" in Arezzo proved crucial, as the companies specializing in precious metal recovery and refining, as well as chemical and mechanical innovation, have advanced to the forefront of the industry. These are among the few areas in Europe that concentrate all the necessary skills for bullion production. Luca Benvenuti, CEO of Chimet, who also owns UnoArezzo, explains that the company only uses recycled gold, and has a fully circular process with certified sources.\n\nIvana Ciabatti, president of Italpreziosi, the only BCorp-certified refining company, states that while the sector may not always generate high added value, they have doubled their workforce to 110 employees and invested in sustainability and advanced technology, acquiring a 50-year-old company specializing in precious metal recovery from industrial waste. Ciabatti believes that Arezzo has always been known for its jewelry district, but now it is thriving in the recovery of precious metals, bullion production, and machinery for production.\n\nThe industry is crucial for Italy's economy, as it handles critical raw materials, recovers valuable metals like platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium, and generates a significant portion of the national GDP and export revenue. Ivana Ciabatti emphasizes the importance of innovation, research, and seizing opportunities in the complex world of precious metals, stating that Arezzo has always been recognized for its jewelry district and is now experiencing a significant growth in precious metal recovery, bullion production, and machinery manufacturing.",
  "summary": "C’è una sfida silenziosa e strategica che si sta giocando nel distretto orafo di Arezzo, nato 100 anni fa con l’azienda Gori&Zucchi, antenata dell’attuale UnoAerre, che portò a livello industriale...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Arezzo's shift from jewelry-making to gold bullion production signals a strategic industry transition, driven by companies leveraging local craftsmanship and innovation to capitalize on rising gold prices and global demand.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}