Agri-food exports: Italy accelerates by 5%. Year-end closing at 73 billion

In the first eleven months of 2025, our agri-food exports increased by 5% year on year, approaching 67 billion euros.

Agri-food exports: the leading products

This points to a year-end closing at 73 billion euros, therefore representing a net gain of 3 billion compared with 2024.

Underlying this is an agricultural value added that records +0,6% and industrial production that rises by 4,5 points.

Over the same period (January–November), Italy’s total foreign sales grew by 3,1%. In essence, the food&beverage engine remains more powerful.

Among the leading products , coffee, bakery and confectionery products, cheeses, hams and fresh fruit stand out.

At the same time, the dynamics of domestic consumption accelerate by 4%, confirming the recovery in volumes of many goods. Some examples: eggs +6,7%, bread +3,1%, fresh vegetables +2,9%, tomato purée +2%, fresh cheeses +3,9%, yoghurt +4,9%, poultry meat +2%, sparkling wines +5,8%.

The good news comes from Ismea, which has just released the quarterly study Agrimercati, ending in September.

And now, the details of the sectors, starting with cereals and wheat. Italy recorded total production of 3,6 million tonnes (+3,4%), thanks to increased yields and more favourable weather conditions, with an overall good quality profile.

Wines and sparkling wines

Against a world campaign 2025/2026 estimated at 232 million hectolitres (+3%), our country confirms its leadership, with 47 million hectolitres (+8%). Stocks in July 2025 were nevertheless very substantial and amounted to 40,6 million hectolitres (including must and vinegars), but were stable at the July 2024 level.

Domestic consumption of sparkling wines remains robust and, over 9 months, rises by 5,8% in volume and by 5% in value.

Extra virgin olive oil

The 2025/26 harvest is of “average size”, that is, production is not exceptionally high but is growing compared with the previous campaign, thanks above all to the southern regions. Consequently, average price lists for Italian extra virgin olive oil fall to just below 8 euros per kilogram, while exports rise by 17% to 303.000 tonnes. All this should also give a boost to Italian consumption: vegetable oils and fats recorded a decrease of 8,9 in value in the January–September 2025 period.

Fruit and vegetables and meat

In the first eight months of 2025, fruit and vegetable exports grew by 3,9% in quantity and by 6,3% in value, with a still-positive trade balance of 1.739 million euros, generated mainly by the processed-products component, 1.680 million euros, while fresh products contributed 59 million.

For meat, domestic consumption (year on year) grew across the entire aggregate by 6,7% in value.

Cattle production, from January to September, rose by 1,2%, contrary to the EU context (-4% in the first eight months).

Poultry: in the first nine months 2025, the production index was +4,3%, while exports showed a delta of +2,3%, with a positive trade balance of more than 70.000 tonnes.

In the first nine months, poultry products maintained a firm lead, accounting for 44% of total purchases in the meat sector, with volumes up by 3% and value up by 9,7, two indicators that nevertheless point to prices rising by almost seven points.

Cured meats and dairy products

In Italy, during the January–August 2025 period, exports of cured meats increased by 5,7% both in volume and in value. Foreign sales of boneless hams (+1,8% in volume and +3,7% in value), sausages (+5,3% and +6,9%) and cooked hams (+8,7% and +5,2%) grew. Domestic consumption also recovered slightly, with a +0,7 in quantity in January–September 2024.

Milk and dairy products: EU production of cow’s milk in the first nine months of 2025 was slightly up (+0,5%), and in September the average price stood at 53,4 euros/100 per kilogram. Italy was almost in line: the raw material grew by 0,3% and in October 2025 the farm-gate price was 57,3 euros/100 litres.

Between January and August 2025, exports of cheeses increased by 14,9% in value and by 5,6% in volume; for Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, there was a +2,2% in volume and +20,4% in value.

Other articles:

Agri-food: Ismea takes stock at Masaf

Agri-food exports exceed 70 billion. Historic milestone

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.