Gas, liquid and electricity meters market in Italy

Earlier Report Observations

The Italian market for gas, liquid, and electricity meters contracted in 2020, with its value falling to $832 million. This coincided with the definitive switch from the regulated retail market to the free market for gas and electricity in July 2020, a major regulatory shift that altered management rules for meters and suppliers, likely causing market uncertainty. This transition was a primary driver of the market's 18.5% decline that year.

From 2021, the market entered a period of strong expansion, growing 37.6% to $1.145 billion and a further 21.5% to $1.391 billion in 2022. This growth was underpinned by infrastructure modernization programs, including the large-scale replacement of first-generation gas meters with second-generation smart devices by network operators like Unareti. Concurrently, the broader market was driven by the expansion of gas pipeline networks and rising demand for natural gas to reduce carbon emissions, which increased the need for metering solutions. Investments from major global players such as Itron Inc. and Sensus in smart metering technology, including IoT-enabled devices for real-time monitoring, further supported this upward trajectory.

The market's structure continued to evolve with the final closure of the protected retail market in the first half of 2024, fully shifting all customers to the free market. This was accompanied by updated EU-harmonized rules for gas meters and new national regulations for the electricity and gas markets. These regulatory updates, along with increased spending on meter management and transportation set by the regulator ARERA, provided a framework that sustained investment in metering infrastructure and supported domestic production, which grew from $698 million in 2020 to $1.388 billion in 2022.

Production gas, liquid and electricity meters in Italy

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, Italy's output of gas, liquid, and electricity meters was valued at 697.8 million US dollars, marking an 8.1% decline compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports gas, liquid and electricity meters from Italy

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Italy exported 16,819 tonnes of gas, liquid, and electricity meters, down 4.4% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 9.3%, translating to an annualized rate of 3.0%. The peak was recorded in 2019 at 17,593 tonnes, with the largest increase of 14.4% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, France, and Spain formed the core market cluster for Italy's exports in kind, accounting for 22.2%, 21.9%, and 7.1% of the total, respectively. Together, they represented 51.2% of all export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Italy's export value of gas, liquid, and electricity meters rose for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 320.6 million US dollars, an 8.8% increase over 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 12.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In value terms from 2017 to 2020, Italy's export destinations were quite dispersed. France, Germany, and Spain accounted for 21.7%, 17.0%, and 10.0% of exports, respectively, totaling just 48.7% of the overall flows. The remaining 51.3% was distributed across a wide range of other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020

Imports gas, liquid and electricity meters to Italy

Imports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Italy's import volumes of gas, liquid, and electricity meters fell in 2020, totaling 12,311 tonnes, a 17.5% drop from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 6.7%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 2.2%. The highest volume was in 2019 at 14,925 tonnes, while the largest increase of 15.5% occurred in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Romania, Poland, and China remained the top suppliers of gas, liquid, and electricity meters to Italy in kind, contributing 44.1%, 20.7%, and 14.0% of imports, respectively. Combined, they made up 78.8% of total import volumes.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year uptrend, Italy's import value of gas, liquid, and electricity meters declined in 2020, standing at 455.1 million US dollars, a sharp 18.1% year-over-year decrease. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports rose by 19.6%, with an annualized rate of 6.1%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 555.9 million US dollars, and the largest increase of 29.9% took place in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Romania, Poland, and Slovakia—collectively accounted for 81.6% of Italy's total import value for gas, liquid, and electricity meters.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020