By David Brough
AREZZO, Italy – Italian gold jewellery exporters are developing markets in Africa, India and Latin America aiming for a recovery of sales that have been hard hit by high and volatile gold and silver prices, tariffs and the Iran war.
The Oroarezzo fair (May 9-12, 2026), organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), has contributed to boost exports by extending hosted invitations to buyers from these regions, while Italian goldsmithing companies have lost revenue due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Gulf Middle East, notably the United Arab Emirates, is traditionally a leading destination for Italian gold jewellery exports, but the Iran war has choked demand in the region.
Matteo Farsura, Global Exhibition Director, Jewellery & Fashion, of IEG, which organises Oroarezzo, told Jewellery Outlook in an interview that the show was hosting buyers from Africa, India and Latin America, as well as other countries, as part of the strategy to grow Italian goldsmithing exports.
Trade sources said some of the most vulnerable Italian goldsmithing companies were the smallest ones which had fewer options than larger companies to tackle market shocks, such as the war.
Turnout was vibrant at the May 2026 edition of Oroarezzo, in part due to the hosted buyer programme implemented by IEG, with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), which promotes “Made in Italy” exports.
According to data from Federorafi, an Italian goldsmithing association, Italian gold jewellery exports in the first months of 2026 were estimated to be down 25 percent year-on-year, due to a “perfect storm” of factors – the Iran war, U.S. tariffs, and lofty and volatile gold and silver prices.
