ROME, February 28. /TASS/. Exports from Italy to Russia plummeted by 37% year-on-year in January 2023, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) said on Tuesday.

In annual terms, Italy ramped up exports of goods and services to China by 137.5%, to Turkey by 46.9%, and to OPEC member-countries by 26.2%.

Procurements in Russia lost 67.3%, Istat said. "The US (+35.1%), MERCOSUR countries (+30.1%) and OPEC countries (+23.8%)" saw the greatest growth in imports compared with the previous year, the Institute added.

Italian imports declined for the fifth month in a row, driven in particular by "a drop in energy purchases," experts said.