Italy set a new record for food and wine exports in 2018, which reached €42 billion, up 3% year-on-year.
Almost two-thirds of Italian agri-food exports went to EU countries, where the main partner is Germany, according to data published by Italian farmers association Coldiretti, based on Istat projections.
Outside the EU, the US is the key destination for Italian food.
Category Growth
The best performing categories include Mediterranean essentials such as wine; sparkling wines grew by 13% and reached an export value of more than €1.5 billion during the year.
Elsewhere, cured meats and cheeses (+3%) and pasta (+2%) have seen an increase. Fresh fruit and vegetables were down 4%.
Export Concerns
Despite these positives, there are concerns over future export stability, with the Brexit factor in the UK, the uncertainty of commercial relations with the US, and the negative effects of the embargo on Russia, just renewed until the end of 2019.
Coldiretti points out that exports could further improve with a more effective protection against international agro-piracy, which is valued at more than €100 billion, and "inappropriately uses Italian words, colours, locations, images, denominations and recipes for fake products that have nothing to do with Italy”.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
