Italian wine place number 2 in terms of exports and sales

ITALIAN WINE NUMBER TWO IN TERMS OF EXPORTS AND SALES.

Wine drives EU alcoholic beverage exports. In 2024, France leads in terms of sales, with Italy in second place.

Eurostat figures show a double-digit increase compared to the period before the pandemic, with sales of nearly 30 billion euros. But analysis of the figures again reveals the clear dependence on the United States

Wine leads EU spirits exports. At 16.8 billion euros in 2024, shipments of wines (including fortified wines) account for 56.2 percent of the total, followed by spirits and liqueurs (8.9 billion euros) with 29.7 percent of the share, then beer (3.4 billion euros) with 11.5 percent, the beverage group that includes apple cider, pears and other fermented beverages (0.5 billion euros) with 1.7 percent of the share, and finally vermouth and other flavored wines (0.3 billion). According to data released by Eurostat on Monday, April 28, compared to the period before the pandemic, there was an increase of 10.9 percent for a total value of 29.8 billion euros of beverages produced in the EU.

The ranking of top exporters

France is still clearly the top exporting country for alcoholic beverages in the EU, with sales of 12.1 billion euros, accounting for 41% of the European total. These are mainly wines, accounting for 8.1 billion euros (66.7% of French exports), and spirits and liquors for 3.8 billion euros (31.8%). In second place is Italy, with €6 billion of alcoholic beverages exported to markets outside the EU, accounting for 20% of the European total. Wine accounts for 81.1% of Italian sales, with 4.9 billion euros (consider more than 8 billion in total Made in Italy wine exports by 2024. In third and fourth place are Spain and the Netherlands, both accounting for 8%, with exports of 2.5 and 2.3 billion euros, respectively. In the Spanish case, it is mainly wine (1.6 billion), while the Dutch product most exported to countries outside the EU is beer (1.3 billion). In fifth and sixth place are Germany (1.6 billion) and Ireland (1.5 billion).

'Dependence' on the U.S.

The United States, awaiting the start of the institutional confrontation between Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen who currently applyan additional 10% tax on European beverages, accounts for 30% of the value of alcoholic beverages exported from the EU, with a total of €8.9 billion, of which more than half (€4.9 billion) is accounted for by wine. The UK is the second largest destination for EU-produced beverages, with €4.9 billion in 2024, or a 17% share, mainly wine (68% and €3.3 billion). With €1.6 billion each, China and Canada are other major trading partners, along with Switzerland (€1.4 billion ). While China mainly buys spirits and liqueurs, Canada and Switzerland are mainly buyers of EU wine.

Source: Gambero Rosso