Despite a complex global scenario, the Italian food sector demonstrates remarkable resilience and competitive strength. According to the latest CREA report—the leading Italian agricultural research institution—the European Union remains Italy’s primary commercial partner, absorbing 59.5% of total food exports and providing nearly 70% of imports. Sales to EU member states have increased by 8.1%, with significant gains in markets such as Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.
The US market and trade dynamics
The report provides an in-depth analysis of trade with the United States, a strategic destination for many Made in Italy products. During 2025, the market faced shifts in commercial policy and an increase in tariffs, leading to a 4.2% decrease in value, amounting to 7.55 billion euros. Nevertheless, this figure remains higher than the 6.7 billion euros recorded in 2023. While products such as extra virgin olive oil, PDO wines, and spirits saw a decline, staples like pasta, mineral waters, roasted coffee, and bakery goods performed positively.
Looking toward Mercosur and future growth
A second focus of the research examines the EU-Mercosur agreement and Italy’s trade with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In 2025, Italy imported nearly 3.7 billion euros worth of products from the area, while exports reached approximately 500 million euros. As we analyze the first five months of 2026, data indicates that the Italian agri-food export sector remains stable, with only a marginal 0.4% decline compared to the same period in 2025.
Strategic outlook
CREA President Andrea Rocchi emphasized that this report is an essential knowledge tool for institutions and businesses. “The results confirm the extraordinary competitive capacity of the Italian system and its resilience,” he said. The findings highlight the growing need for market diversification, the strengthening of European supply chains, and the strategic importance of new commercial agreements.