Yet another record for exports of Italian food & beverage, which in 2018 reached for the first time the value of 41.8 billion euros with an increase of 1.8% over 2017. This is what emerges from a survey by Italian farmers’ association Coldiretti based on Istat data. Almost two thirds of Italian food exports reach the countries of the European Union. The major trading partner is Germany, while outside the EU the United States is the reference market for Italian food.
MEDITERRANEAN DIET FUELING ITALIAN FOOD EXPORTS
The typical products of the Mediterranean diet are pushing Italian food exports growth. Starting with wine, which is the most exported Italian product with an increase of 3% in value. But the real star is the sparkling wines category which is growing by 13% with an exports value of more than 1.5 billion. Fresh fruit and vegetables come in second position, while good performances include also cold cuts, cheeses (with an increase of 3% in value), and pasta, whose export sales increased by 2%.
THE STRUGGLE AGAINST COUNTERFEITING
“The trend on international markets could further improve with a more effective protection against international agro-piracy and counterfeiting, which invoice over 100 billion euros yoy by improperly using words, colors, locations, images, names and recipes that recall Italy for tainted products that have nothing to do with Italy” – said the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini -. “It is also necessary to overcome the current fragmentation in the promotion of real Made in Italy abroad, by aiming for a single agency to accompany our companies around the world on the model of the France’s Sopexa”.