Egypt has continued to expand its pumpkin exports to Italy, setting a new record for the third year in a row, according to EastFruit. Between January and August 2025, exporters shipped more than 8,000 tons of pumpkins to Italy, valued at nearly US$5 million. The volume is three times higher than in 2023 and four times higher than in 2022. It also exceeds the previous record set in 2024 by 73 per cent. Over the past three years, Egypt's average annual growth rate in pumpkin exports to Italy has reached 62 per cent.
© EastFruit
Italy is now the sixth largest destination for Egyptian pumpkins, accounting for a little over 6 per cent of export sales in the past two years. Shipments are concentrated from January to June, which aligns with Italy's main import window. The highest volumes generally land in late winter and early spring. In 2025, the largest deliveries were made in February and March, during which Egyptian pumpkins accounted for more than half of Italy's imports.
Italy is among the world's top ten pumpkin producers, yet its import demand has been rising. Increased consumption and lower domestic output due to climate constraints have driven this trend. In 2024, Italy imported a record 18,000 tons. In the first eight months of 2025, imports reached 17,000 tons, indicating the likelihood of a new annual record.
© EastFruit
Egypt has become Italy's leading pumpkin supplier. Its market share increased from 14 per cent in 2022 to 26 per cent in 2024. In the January to August 2025 period, Egypt supplied 46 per cent of Italy's pumpkin imports. Other suppliers included South Africa, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. In total, Italy imported pumpkins from 24 countries during the first eight months of the year.
Source: EastFruit
