The Monitor of the Italian agri-food districts published by the Studies and Research Department of the Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo shows a +12.8% increase in exports in 2022 compared to 2021, with a turnover of more than 25 billion euros. This confirms the general growth trend of Italian food&beverage exports (+15.3% in 2022), of which districts account for 44% in terms of export value.
In terms of destination markets, Germany is once again in first place with a total of 4.6 billion euros (+8.7%), followed by the United States with more than 3.2 billion euros, and France with around 2.9 billion euros. Sales in the UK market continue to recover (+13%). Exports to emerging markets are performing well. In 2022 they reached the 20% threshold despite sales decline in China (-25.8%) and Russia (-12.3%).
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WINE
The wine industry is the leading sector in terms of export value with more than 6.6 billion euros (+9.4%), an increase of 570 million compared to 2021. The largest contribution comes from the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco district (+25.3%), followed by the wine district of the Florence and Siena hills (+11.6%).
PASTA AND SWEETS
Exports of Italy’s pasta and confectionery supply chain exceeded 4.4 billion euros, almost 720 million more than in 2021 (+19.3%) despite inflation. All districts recorded an increase in exports in 2022: the pasta and confectionery districts of Parma (+18.1%) and Naples (+45.3%) stand out, as well as the confectionery districts of Alba and Cuneo (+8.9%).
AGRI-FOOD DISTRICTS
The growth of the agricultural districts slowed down to +1.6%, due to the increase in production costs (energy, raw materials, fertilizers) as well as to the drop in crop yields caused by a hard drought in 2022. The largest contribution came from the fruit and vegetable district of Bari (+24.2%), followed by the agricultural district of Piana del Sele (+8.8%). The fruit and vegetable sector in Romagna achieved good results too (+2.1%).
PRESERVES
There was widespread growth in the canning districts, which recorded an overall increase of 23.6%, led by Conserve di Nocera (+25.6%).
SALUMI AND MEAT
The meat and cold cuts supply chain grew by +7.3% overall or 166 million euros. The Salumi from the Modena district accounted for 120 million (+16.7%).
DAIRY
Exports of dairy products from Reggio Emilia fell (-29.8%), while those from Parma rose by +8.5% and those from south-east Lombardy by +19.9%. Exports of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO achieved remarkable growth (+30.2%), while the Sardinian milk sector recovered (+10.1%).
OLIVE OIL
The strong acceleration of the olive oil sector’s exports continued (+27.6%), with the Tuscan oil district recording +27.9% and the oil from Umbria growing +22.9%. Exports of oil from the oil and pasta district of Bari rose by +36.6%. Overall, this product has been recording the highest price increases in the last year.
RICE
The two Italian rice regions earned more than 130 million euro more than in 2021 (+24.6%), with Vercelli rice exports up +17.4% and Pavia rice earning almost 80 million euro more from all main export destinations.
COFFEE
The Italian coffee districts continue their run on foreign markets (+19.9% in 2022): these are coffee, confectionery, and chocolate from Turin (+21.8%), coffee from Trieste (+16.5%), and coffee and confectionery from Naples (+16.9%).
SEAFOOD
The export sales of the Polesine and Venetian fishing district also consolidated its progress: +5.7%.