Italy Sees $3.3 bln Export Boost from Iran Sanctions Lifting

A gradual lifting of sanctions against Iran could lift Italian exports to the Asian country by around 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in the next four years, Italy's export credit agency SACE said on Tuesday.

"Regaining lost market share in Iran will not be easy considering that competitors such as China, India, Russia and Brazil have had fewer constraints in recent years," SACE said in an emailed statement.

Even though a deepening of sanctions in late 2011 significantly cut trade, Italy remains one of the main commercial partners for Iran, SACE said, adding that the oil and gas, automotive, defence, transport, real estate and construction sectors would offer the best opportunities there.

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni)