Exports of 'Made In Italy' agrifood products to China set a new record level in 2018, reaching a high of €450 million and rising by 260% in the last ten years.
The findings emerge from analysis by Italian farmers association Coldiretti.
Italian wine is the most exported product to China in 2018, with an overall value of €130 million, with Italy overtaking Spain in terms of exports in this category, the study found.
Technical Barriers
However, according to Coldiretti, several technical barriers still exist which are restraining exports of certain 'Made In Italy' agrifood products.
In terms of fresh fruit, Italy currently exports citrus and kiwis to China, while apples and pears are still subject to trade negotiations.
Today, Italian imports from China exceeded exports by 33%, and Coldiretti said that it is important to solve the problem of technical barriers in order to balance trade relations.
Italy is also one of the G7 countries that supports the 'Belt and Road' initiative, the new 'Silk Road' desired by the Chinese president Xi Jinping.
© 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.
