Italian food exports have reached an unprecedented milestone: nearly 70 billion euros in 2024, double the 34 billion in 2014. This extraordinary achievement confirms the strength of Made in Italy in the agrifood sector, despite the challenges that remain. In a global context, marked by geopolitical uncertainties and economic difficulties, Italy stands out with an extraordinary result: fourth place worldwide for the value of exports.
A record that tells of quality and know-how
This achievement is not just a matter of numbers, but testifies to the strength and attractiveness of Made in Italy, synonymous with “good, healthy and well-made” products that are appreciated worldwide. In 2024, Italy surpasses demographic giants such as Japan, France, the United Kingdom and Canada, ranking just behind China, the United States and Germany. With about 3.2 percent of world export shares, Italy remains one of the leading exporting economies, second in Europe only to Germany. Italian exports reach 40.3 percent of potential global markets, an outstanding achievement considering that Italy’s population accounts for just 4 percent of China’s.
United States in the lead, Europe expanding
The United States remains the leading market for Italian food and wine products, with growth of about 150 percent over the past decade. Europe also plays a leading role: France (+90%), Germany (+71%) and the United Kingdom (+57%) are among the countries that have registered significant increases.
The leading product is undoubtedly wine, the leader of Italian exports, followed by processed fruit and vegetables, cheese, pasta and cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables, cured meats and olive oil. (*)
A supply chain of 4 million workers
The success of Italian agribusiness is the result of the efforts of a supply chain involving 4 million people, distributed among 740 thousand farms and 70 thousand food industries. Thanks to this network, the goal of reaching 100 billion euros in exports by 2030 seems increasingly within reach.
Challenges to be faced
To sustain this growth, it is imperative to solve some critical issues. First and foremost, infrastructure delays that hold back the sector and cause lost earnings of as much as 9 billion euros each year.
Another priority is to combat the phenomenon of ‘Italian sounding, or the sale of products passed off as Italian, but which in reality are not. This parallel market is worth a staggering 120 billion euros globally and poses a threat to both Made in Italy and consumers.
ITA0039 by ASACERT: a bulwark for Made in Italy
In the successful landscape of Made in Italy, a crucial role is played by entities such as ITA0039 by ASACERT, which since 2019 has been working to certify and protect the authenticity of Italy’s agrifood heritage through the network of Italian restaurants abroad. Working with partners such as Coldiretti and Euro-Toques, ITA0039 ensures that only true Italian excellence gets the recognition it deserves.
ITA0039 promotes awareness among global consumers, protecting the value of Made in Italy. The ITA0039 App is an example of digital innovation at the service of quality: a tool to identify real Italian products and avoid imitations and counterfeits.
As Fabrizio Capaccioli, creator of the ITA0039 protocol, points out, “The result we are commenting on today, which sees Italian products asserting themselves in the very difficult global landscape, is the result of the quality and uniqueness of Made in Italy products, a heritage to be protected. Through a simple and transparent certification system, we ensure that the products served in Italian restaurants around the world are truly 100% Italian. This reflects a thought shared by the majority of Italians, who recognize the fundamental value of agri-food products in our cultural heritage.”
ITA0039 does not limit itself to certification, but carries out intense cultural awareness activities, contributing every day to the protection and enhancement of Made in Italy. A concrete example of how Italian excellence translates into opportunities for businesses and a guarantee of quality for consumers around the world.
*Analysis by Coldiretti on Istat data.
