Italy: Record fresh produce exports in 2018

Fruitimprese has analysed Istat data which reported that, last year, Italian fresh produce exports exceeded €5 billion - 3% more than in 2016 and a record figure for the sector. Volumes dropped by 6% at around 4 million tons. The balance is just over €1 billion, 3.2% more than 2016. Imports also increased in both volume (7.4%) and value (3%).

As regards the single segments, the volume of dried fruit increased (6.4%) while that of vegetables (-10.3%), fresh fruit (-4.7%) and citrus fruit (-16.1%) decreased. As for the value, the sign was positive for vegetables (0.3%) and fresh fruit (6.1%) and negative for citrus fruit (-10.2%) and dried fruit (-1.4%).

Import volumes increased for tropical fruit (8%), fresh fruit (5.6%), vegetables (1.9%) and citrus fruit (35.9%) while those of dried fruit decreased (-4.5%). The value was positive for all segments except for dried fruit (-8.8%): vegetables (8.5%), citrus fruit (17.5%), fresh fruit (7.8%), tropical fruit (6.3%).

Fruitimprese President Marco Salvi (in the photo above) is rather pleased: "Italian produce is doing well on the international markets despite the instabilities, the Russian ban and problem areas such as North Africa. The result was among the best of the last twenty years, despite the increase in imports."

The boom in exports occurred thanks to the fresh fruit (57%) and pulse and vegetable segments (27%): "together, these two segments make up almost 85% of the export turnover. The value increased both because quantities of certain products dropped and because the high-quality of our productions was recognised and appreciated by the markets."

"Producers and traders have not given up despite the crisis, they have intensified their efforts focusing on faraway markets such as the Middle East and Asia."

"Businesses are asking the future government and the future Minister to pay more attention to the sector. They need to help us consolidate what we've achieved so far, favouring the growth and development of a sector that is strategic for the Italian economy and for the southern regions in particular."

"The Tavolo nazionale per l'ortofrutta, set up in late December 2017, is the best place to discuss priorities from bilateral agreements, internationalisation and promotions, to relaunching consumption in Italy and Europe."

"Our businesses are not asking for subsidies, but rather for priorities to be shared. The work started by the Tavolo nazionale must be supported and hopefully the Ministry for Economic Development and the ICE will be included."

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