According to Intesa Sanpaolo data, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Pdo is the fourth largest Italian Pdo product by production value, with 459 million euros, behind Parmigiano Reggiano Pdo, Grana Padano Pdo and Prosciutto di Parma Pdo.
A RECORD IN PRODUCTION GROWTH
Among Italian Pdo cheeses, moreover, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is the one with the highest production growth between 2016 and 2022, posting a 26% increase, compared to an average growth of 10% in certified production in the sector, according to data from the first Economic Observatory on the Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Dop supply chain, carried out in partnership with UniCredit and Nomisma.
In 2022, 55 million 814 thousand kilograms of Pdo Mozzarella were produced, up 3.8% over the previous year. The amount of milk suitable for Pdo also increased, from 295,434 tons in 2021 to 305,829 tons in 2022. Moreover, in the last ten years, from 2012 to 2022, the number
of dairy buffaloes raised in the Pdo area has also expanded, from 321,433 to 374,297 head.
MOZZARELLA CONQUERS THE EAST
In Italy, the Northwest is the area where most Pdo mozzarella is purchased (34.9%), while abroad, France is confirmed as the leading country among mozzarella lovers, accounting for
33% of exports. Asia stands out, according to manufacturers, with the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China and South Korea in the top ten of future scenarios. Intesa Sanpaolo highlights the strong growth in the export of Mozzarella di bufala Campana (+30% in 2022) amid prices growing by about 10%.
MORE THAN MOZZARELLA
Finally, it is important to highlight how clearly Bufala Campana represents an economic model generating economic wealth in the Pdo area.
According to Ismea Qualivita data, the provinces of Caserta and Salerno, i.e., the main production areas, rank seventh and fifteenth, respectively, in the ranking of the territorial impact of Pdo and Pgi products in the food sector. And if mozzarella is the queen of the dairy sector in Campania, Caciocavallo and Provolone have also achieved remarkable performances in recent months: Caciocavallo Silano Pdo ranked 42nd in the TasteAtlas ranking, an international reference point for the best cheeses on a global scale; Provolone del Monaco Pdo ended 2022 with a 5% increase in production.