Italian food and beverage exports to the United States rose 11 percent in value in the first two months of 2025, according to data from Italian farmers’ group Coldiretti, as importers sought to front-load purchases ahead of potential trade barriers.
The figures, based on official Istat statistics and released at the opening of the TuttoFood trade show in Milan, reflect a notable acceleration in February, when exports climbed 14 per cent year-on-year.
Coldiretti said the increase was driven by fears that US President Donald Trump may reimpose tariffs of up to 20 percent on European food products, which were suspended for 90 days earlier this year. Importers, it said, appear to be stockpiling Italian goods in anticipation of further policy developments.
The export surge has had a mixed impact across Italy’s agri-food sectors. Wine — the country’s top food export to the US — has shown uneven performance, with some producers reporting a rebound in demand while others continue to see falling volumes.
By contrast, cheese exports have seen more consistent gains. The Grana Padano PDO Consortium reported an 11 per cent increase in shipments to the US in early 2025. However, the outlook for tomato products remains uncertain, as markets weigh a projected double-digit production decline in California and unclear supply prospects from China.
“Despite trade tensions, the long-term investment in promoting Italian food in the US is clearly bearing fruit,” said Ettore Prandini, president of Coldiretti. “Whatever Washington decides, it is vital to avoid an escalation that would harm both sides.” Vincenzo Gesmundo, the group’s secretary-general, added: “The United States remains a strategic market for Europe and Italy. We hope that dialogue continues.”
The association also warned that renewed tariffs could exacerbate the longstanding issue of Italian-sounding products — those marketed under Italian names but produced abroad. Citing USDA data, Coldiretti estimates that US producers now manufacture 222mn kg of Parmesan, 170mn kg of imitation provolone, 23mn kg of fake pecorino romano, and nearly 40mn kg of other “Italian-style” cheeses. Fake mozzarella alone accounts for more than 2bn kg, bringing the total volume of imitation Italian cheeses produced in the US to nearly 2.7bn kg.
