Exports of Italian fresh fruit decreased by 15% in volume and by 11% in value in 2018 compared to the previous year, representing an overall decline of €307 million.
This emerges from an analysis by ISMEA (Institute of Services for Agricultural Food Market), based on data for 2018.
According to ISMEA, the slowdown in exports is due to the decrease in the availability of a number of important fruits, including apples and kiwis.
Exports of Italian fresh fruit fell in almost all main foreign markets. In particular, exports to Spain decreased by 30% in value in 2018 compared to the previous 12 months.
Grapes and apples were the most exported fruits in 2018, the study found.
Rising Imports
According to the research, in the same period analysed, Italian imports of fruit increased by 2%, reaching an high of 1.6 million tonnes.
In terms of both volume and value, the most imported fruits are bananas, pineapples, as well as peaches and strawberries.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Alessandra Arosio. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
