With almost 22 million hectoliters shipped abroad , Italian wine exports surpassed the 8 billion euro turnover milestone in 2024. A new record, also favored by the rush to stockpiles in the United States, under the threat of duties on products made in the EU reiterated by Trump, even in recent days. In addition to the leap forward in values (+5.5%), the quantities sent abroad are growing again with a +3.2%, after the setback in 2024. Once again, the driving force behind sales on international markets were bubbles , which now represent 25% of exports in volume and 29% of the value accrued on foreign markets. The balance of the year for the sparkling wine segment is extremely positive, with a progression of 12% in quantitative terms and 9% in monetary equivalents.
Italy confirms its position as the world leader in terms of export volumes and second in terms of value behind France, with an export dynamism that is unrivaled in Europe. The transalpine country maintained the volumes of 2024 but suffered a slight decline in values (-2%), while Spain showed a setback in quantity (-3%) against an increase in revenue (+4%). Going into detail on the main export categories of national wineries, ISMEA elaborations on ISTAT data highlight sustained growth for wines with protected designation of origin (PDO), which closed the year with an increase of 6.5% in value and 7.6% in volume, thanks also to the positive contribution of still wines.
The IGPs recorded a more moderate increase (+1.3% in value, +2.8% in volume), while the municipalities suffered a contraction of almost 7% in quantity, offset by an equivalent increase in monetary equivalents. The United States they are confirmed first destination market for Italian wine with a weight that reached, in 2024, 24% of the overall turnover matured abroad, thanks to the 10.2% leap forward (+7% in hectoliters). Exports to Germany, the second reference market, grew in value by almost 4%, but fell in volume while exports to the British market advanced but at a moderate pace (+1% in value, +2% in volume). Worthy of note are the excellent sales developments in Canada, in fourth place among the main customers (+15.3% turnover, +4% in hectoliters) and in Russia, which in the entire past year increased purchases of Italian wines and sparkling wines by over 40% both in value and volume.