SICILIA - Economy
Recession in agriculture and industry, upturn in the services sector
Between 1995 and 2000, gross value added generated in the region experienced a growth rate which was relatively slower than the national average and the gap between Sicily and the rest of Italy was consequently further widened. Although the region's contribution to the gross value added of Italy was 5.6% in 2000, the per capita GDP was much under the national average and represented about 65% of the EU average.
The figures for trade in agricultural foodstuffs between Sicily and abroad seemed to confirm the critical situation in this particular sector. The crisis was marked by inadequate returns in the major areas of production and a consequent drift from the land, declining populations in smaller towns and villages and the irreversible impoverishment of the farming and peasant traditions, typical of the region.
Industry exhibited a disjointed picture, marked on the one side by the rapid emergence of serious industrial problems and on the other by the consolidation of certain manufacturing sectors in readiness for 1992 and by the widespread growth of small businesses. The construction industry continued to be affected by recession in 1999, mainly in the public sector with regard to subsidised housing, the restoration of old town and city centres and large infrastructure projects.
As for the services sector, it continued to advance amid the difficulties of absorbing workers from the other sectors and the need to adapt to the modern requirements of the national post industrial economy. The results in the tourist industry were better than in the previous year but were still inadequate when it came to coping with the increasing demand.
Large petrochemical industry and small businesses
There are various types of farmland: a large cereal-growing area in the interior, citrus fruits in the north and east (the Conca d'oro valley behind Palermo and the Catania plain), vineyards in the province of Trapani, nursery farming at Ragusa for vegetables, flowers and fruit and other areas where almonds, olives and carrobs are cultivated.
There is a fairly uneven pattern in the distribution of industry in the region. In the past the most important product for the mining sector was sulphur, but this has been superseded by the rock salt and potassium salts which can be found in the central and southern parts of Sicily. The province of Trapani accounts for 85% of the island's marble production. In the oil industry there has been heavy investment in plants at Augusta (ESSO) and Priolo (Praoil and ISAB) for the production of lead-free fuels and to reduce the effects of pollution. The chemicals industry is represented by Enichem at Gela, Priolo, Ragusa and Augusta. As for craft trades in Sicily, most of the work is connected with the construction and services sectors.
The distributive trades are of major importance in the services sector. The general trend is encouraged by the continuing growth in household spending on consumer items. Large scale distribution is the sector which has been most affected by the increased spending, especially in the provincial capitals.
Concerning the transport sector, there are gaps in the road network, especially in the provinces of Agrigento, Ragusa and Siracusa which receive not only tourist traffic but also a lot of traffic carrying food and petroleum products. The ferry services to the mainland are operated by Italian State Railways, as well as by private companies. Domestic and international services operate from the airports of Punta Raisi at Palermo and Fontanarossa at Catania. The ports at Palermo and Trapani link Sicily with Sardinia and North Africa.
In Sicily, from 1993 to 2000, exports has shown a positive trend of its amounts. In the 2001 and 2002 this trend has changed (as in Italy), lowering respect to the 2000 (peak year of the last decade) of -3.1% and -9.1 respectively. The 53.7% of export (2002) derives from the oil and chemical industry, while smaller amounts are ascribable to the electronic (10.2%), agriculture and fishery (6.7%) and food (5.8%) industry.
Also sicilian imports in 2002 have decreased their amounts respect to the 2000 of about the 14.5%. Sicily receives goods (81% are petrol and coke) especially from North Africa and Middle East. The rest is composed by food, cars and chemical products overall.
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