Italian cured meats are expanding in United States. The weaker euro and, consequently, the increased purchasing power has allowed wider spending opportunities compared to US domestic products. These effects are visible also in the increase in purchases in the food sector, and especially in the cured meats segment. According to the latest Assica report, in the first semester of 2015 a progressive increase in the consumption of meat products, including precisely cured meats, has been recorded.
From January to June 2015 Italy’s export sales of cured meat reached 74.067 tons (+5,9%) for a value of €614,6 million, up 3,9% compared to the same period the previous year. Two factors have determined the growth. The first is the extraordinarily positive result from the US market, where export sales amounted for up to 20% in quantity and 26% in value compared to the same time period the previous year. And secondly, Italian cured meat exports have gained against Spain, as showed by the Assica report. They have built on the recovery already seen in 2014, and the demand for Italian cured meats, compared to those from the Spanish market, saw a further increase in the first semester of 2015, with expansion of cooked ham in particular.
