Jan. 17 – Faced with a collapse in domestic demand, exports represent an increasingly essential input for Italian agriculture. “Made in Italy” agriculture is, in fact, exploring foreign markets, recording in November an increase in cross-border sales of 6.5%, almost double the average export growth rate (+3.6% per annum). The data was analyzed by the Italian Farmers Confederation (IFC), upon foreign trade data released by ISTAT. “Only the export of fruit and vegetables is worth 4 billion euros a year, and there is still ample opportunity for growth in foreign markets, especially as the global demand, pulled by the BRICs, has increased from $70 to $170 billion in just a few years” says the IFC. This is a historical record for the value of Italian food products exports. In fact, in 2012 it exceeded 31 billion euros. Coldiretti adds, “the majority of exports are directed towards the EU, for an estimated value of 23.3 billion euros (+3%), but exports also grew in the United States with 2.6 billion euros (+10%) and Asian markets, where there has been a greater increase: +21% (2.5 billion euros)”.
