The overall balance sheet of 2023 dairy exports, despite the fluctuating trend of the 12 months, tells of a new historical record: 600 thousand tons for 5 billion euros in turnover.
And a trade balance that stands at 2.3 billion euros.
On a product level, exports were driven by fresh cheeses (with double-digit percentage increases for burrata and mascarpone).
Again in terms of volumes, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano follow (+6.1%) with excellent results also in the grated formats (+7.1%). The other hard matured cheeses also do well (+7.8%) and are also slightly increasing. Gorgonzola (+1.1%).
Mozzarella in all its types grows by 4%, and alone represents ¼ of export volumes.
The trade balance, with a significant increase of 15% over 2022, exceeded 2.3 billion euros.
"Exports are confirmed as a substantial component for the growth of the Italian dairy sector - comments Paolo Zanetti, president of Assolatte - and is a fundamental lever for maintaining production levels for the growth of the supply chain".
On a geographical level, the European Union has offered a safer haven for our cheeses than it has for non-EU countries, where difficulties have arisen in Canada, Japan and South Korea.
The United Kingdom - in the wake of Brexit and the recession underway in the country - and the United States - with the double effect of inflation and devaluation of the dollar - have also shown signs of slowing down.
The EU market is better, as anticipated.
Of note are notable increases in dairy exports to Germany (+8.9%), Spain (+7.4%), France (+6.8%) and Eastern Europe.
As regards non-EU countries, the most significant increases concerned China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
And China overtakes Canada, which therefore becomes our fifth non-European destination after the United Kingdom, USA, Switzerland and Japan.
Italian cheeses are at the top of imports from France, the United States and Switzerland.
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