According to the latest estimates by Coldiretti, the association of Italian farmers, total Italian food and beverage exports are expected to be 60 billion euros by the end of 2022.
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ITALY’S F&B EXPORTS BY THE NUMBERS
The analysis is based on Istat’s foreign trade data for the first seven months of 2022, which show +19.5 percent average growth despite the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine and international tensions on world trade in goods and services.
Germany is the main outlet market, with sales increasing by +13.7 percent in the January-July period (compared to the first seven months of 2021), ahead of the United States (+21.4 percent). France comes in third place, but the growth rate is +20.2 percent. Positive results in the United Kingdom as well, with +20.5 percent highlighting how Italian exports proved stronger than Brexit. Double-digit leap also in Turkey (+25.7 percent), while Italian food sales dropped in China (-25.8 percent) and Russia (-14.8 percent).
FOCUS ON FOREIGN MARKETS
According to data by Federalimentare (the association of Italy’s F&B industries) in the first six months of 2022, the must and vinegar sector stands out on the export front, which exceeded euro 4 billion accounting for 14.2% of total food exports. Confectionery (almost 2.8 billion, 9.8% of the total), dairy products (over 2.3 billion, 8.4%), and pasta (1.9 billion, 6.8%) also performed well.
The value of Italian food exports by country
| Country | Jan-Jun 2022 (mio euros) | Trend % – 2022/2021 |
| Germany | 3,360.6 | +15.3% |
| USA | 3,185.2 | +19.1% |
| France | 2,623.2 | +20.8% |
| UK | 1,777.1 | +22.9% |
| Spain | 911.2 | +41.3% |
| Netherlands | 910.8 | +34.3% |
| China | 245.5 | -8.8% |
| Russia | 222.7 | -19% |
Even considering the trends, positive data emerges. Pasta showed an increase of +33.7% in value and +8.5 in volume in the first six months of the year, rice advanced by +28% in turnover and +10.7% in quantity, sugar by +51.9% and +18.4%. There were also excellent results for oils and fats (+39.6% and +14.4%) and coffee (+29.5% and +4.9%), while dairy products grew in value (+22.1%) but contracted in volume (-1.8%).