At the inaugural ‘LUV’ trade show—Europe’s first dedicated entirely to the table grape sector—Italy’s Ministry of Agriculture hosted an inbound business tour in Bari this week, drawing foreign buyers and importers.
The “Table Grape Business Tour” reflects Italy’s export strength in premium fresh produce. In 2023, Italian table grape exports surpassed €820 million, a 13% increase over 2022, with an even steeper rise in the first seven months of this year (+36%).
Italy, Europe’s leading producer and the world’s third-largest exporter of table grapes, maintains a 10% share of global trade, trailing only Peru and the Netherlands. Italian table grapes have won international favor through a balance of historical quality and an expanded offering of seedless varieties, which are increasingly preferred by markets abroad.
The Table Grape Tour brought buyers and importers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Poland, Vietnam, and Canada—each identified with support from the Italian Trade Agency. From October 22 to 24, the international delegation engaged in site visits to leading production and packing facilities in Puglia, B2B meetings at LUV with national producer organizations, and tours spotlighting Puglia’s cultural and culinary traditions.
Italian table grape exports have seen volume declines from 469 million kg in 2020 to 384 million kg in 2023, offset by a rise in average prices from €1.55 to €2.14 per kg, resulting in revenue growth from €727 million in 2020 to €821 million in 2023, with early 2024 figures indicating a continuation of this trend (+36% in the year’s first seven months).
Globally, the table grape trade encompasses five million tons annually, valued at roughly €9 billion. In 2023, Peru topped global exports with a 19% share, followed by the Netherlands and Italy (10% each), while China, Chile, and the United States held smaller shares. Germany remains the largest market for Italian grapes, accounting for over a third of exports, followed by France (16%) and Poland (8%), with Saudi Arabia and the UAE among the top non-European importers.
