Sales of Italian cheeses are increasing again in foreign markets. After a slight decrease in the value of exports in 2020, the growth in cross-border shipments in the first half of 2021 was double-digit. Both in volume (+11%) and in value (+13%) compared to the same period last year. The positive trend was favored by the recovery of out-of-home consumption in the main destination markets, according to the latest Ismea report based on the latest foreign trade data from ISTAT. This is after the easing of restrictive measures due to the pandemic and, as far as the United States is concerned, also following the suspension of duties that from October 2019 to February 2021 weighed on Italian cheeses.
In 2020, despite the difficulties of the pandemic period and the strong slowdown in world trade, Italy exported 463 thousand tons of cheese and dairy products (+1.7% compared to 2019) for a value of 3.1 million euros (-3%). It has maintained its position as the third-largest exporter in the world behind Germany and the Netherlands, and the first supplier of two strategic destinations such as France (the main outlet market for this category), and the United States (the major market among non-EU countries).
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THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES OF BUFFALO MOZZARELLA AND MONTASIO PDO
Some products were better able than others to capitalize on the Covid-19 period building consumer loyalty. This is the case for fresh cheeses (especially mozzarella), which limited the 2020 decline to -3.9% while maintaining a positive differential of +11% over 2019. Among PDO cheeses, sales of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO and Montasio PDO also grew further after their excellent performances in 2020 (+2.4% and +11%, respectively).
When analyzing data from the last 5 years, prior to the pandemic the Italian dairy sector went through a phase of progressive decline in volumes purchased. Young couples with young children showed the greatest disaffection to cheese consumption during the period, gradually reducing the presence of cheese in their diet (-5% in volume between 2016 and 2020). The cheese had greater appeal in families composed of parents with teenage children, for whom cheese consumption increased 15% over five years with an exceptional recovery in the last year. Young singles have also shown exceptional dynamism in the pandemic era (+21%) and this is a real rediscovery of these products after a period of low interest.