Italian agri-food exports surge in 2019

Italian agri-food exports have reached an all-time high. According to an analysis by the Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti based on definitive ISTAT data, the country generated foreign sales of €44.6 billion in 2019, a year-on-year increase of 7%.

Wine is Italy’s biggest agri-food export accounting for a value of €6.4 billion.

Almost two thirds (63%) of exports were sold in EU countries, where the growth in value was 3.6% in 2019. Italy’s largest trading partner is Germany, where sales grew by 2.9% to €7.2 billion, while sales in the UK remain sluggish due to Brexit.

Exports to the United States have soared by 11% to €4.7 billion, making it the biggest market outside the EU and the fourth largest after Germany, France and the UK.

Italy’s export performance in 2020 is being affected by the application of additional 25% tariffs on about half a billion euros of Italian agri-food products and above all by the coronavirus health emergency, says Coldiretti.