Liguria's ports are essential components of the national port system; Assoporti data indicates that they processed more than 50% of containers that transited through Italian ports of final destination (also known as "gateways") in 2024. Because of their geographical location, they also serve as the primary hub for non-EU exports from the Northwest areas as well as several provinces in the Northeast and Central Italy. The United States received about 28 percent of Liguria's exports, with China coming in second at 7.5 percent. Machinery, food, and plastics were among the most significant exports to the United States, whereas machinery and chemical items were the most common exports to China. In terms of arriving commodities, China accounted for about 40% of imported items; the next largest countries, the United States and India, each had a significantly smaller part (approximately 5%). Hydrocarbons accounted for 40% of all purchases from the United States.