July 4 – Italian food product exports in mark the historical record of 34 billion sales, with an increase of 7% in the first quarter compared to 2012. These figures emerge from a Coldiretti estimate based on Istat data relating to foreign trade. From the analysis, it is clear that with weak growth in European countries (+3%), Italian products remain strong in the Americas (+9%) and especially in emerging markets, such as Asia, where there has been an increase of 13%, and Africa, with a 31% increase. Among the major sectors, the most exported products are fruit and vegetables, which increased by 7%, followed by the wine (which grew by +10%). However, increases were also registered for pasta, +7%, and olive oil, +11% thanks to a new law protecting real extra virgin olive oil from cheap imitations. Analyzing product performance in individual states, it emerges that Italian cheese grew by 78% of in China (+62% of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano purchases), despite the traditional opposition to dairy product consumption by Asian nationals. And in the country that invented noodles, Italian pasta increases its market presence by 9%, while in the UK, home of whiskey, grows attention to Italian grappa (+19%).
