Italian wine exports, Veneto and Tuscany among the “big” goods in the first quarter, slight decline in Piedmont

Italian wine exports began the first quarter of 2024 with a positive sign (1.84 billion euros, +3.8% on the same period of 2023), although it should be remembered that at a rapid start, in January, a slowdown followed in the following two months which, however, has not led to a negative balance to date. An encouraging figure, but which is still premature to analyze in depth, and which nevertheless restores confidence in a sector with many challenges to face. Going, specifically, and therefore to the “purchase” of the individual Regions, according to Istat data analyzed by WineNews, the three “powers” of Italian wine, and therefore Veneto, Piedmont and Tuscany, which together add up to 67% of the export Italian wine, did not go hand in hand in the first three months of 2024, in comparison with the same period of the previous year: Veneto, the leading region, grew by 5.7% in value reaching 663.3 million euros; Tuscany also performed well (+5.1%) at 281.9 million euros, while Piedmont fell slightly (-1.9%) and stopped at 266.2 million euros.
In fourth place is the Trentino Alto Adige which slightly improves its figure (+0.7%) for a value of 152.651 million euros; excellent performanceEmilia Romagna which makes a double-digit leap (+10.8%) which projects it to 111 million euros in exports, while 2024 has started badly for Lombardy (-10.2%) which drops to a figure just over 69 million euros. L’Abruzzo exceeds 59 million euros in value (+1.4%), with the Puglia which remains almost stable (-0.2%) at 53.8 million euros. Negative sign coming back Friuli Venezia Giulia (-4% to 46.4 million euros of exports), and which does not even spare the Sicily (-6.8%) which shows a quarterly export value of 36.3 million euros. We go back, slightly, in Lazio (+1% to 20.8 million euros), but both in the Marche (-6.3%, 15.1 million euros) which in Campania (-7.7%, 12.2 million euros) returns to negative territory; same thing in Umbria (-14.6%, export value just under 7 million euros). Positive Sardinia (+2.4%, 6.3 million euros), and excellent performance of Molise (+43.7%, 3.1 million euros), which has the Liguria, in sharp decline (-57.1%, 3.2 million euros). Also down Calabria (-13.9%, 1.4 million euros), while, despite the modest importance on the wine market, the figure of Valle d’Aosta (+87.9% to 621,000 euros of exports), with the Basilicata which, however, is in double negative figures (-34%, 557,000 euros).
Despite lights and shadows, therefore, as mentioned, Italian wine exports closed with a positive balance in the first quarter of this year, in contrast to the general negative dynamics of Made in Italy detected by Istat. The trend balance, also noted by theItalian Wine Union (Uiv)indicates a +3.1% in volumes exported (+3.9% in values, to 1.84 billion euros) by Italian wine companies, compared to French competitors who stop at -0.2%. But, according to UIV calculations based on Istat, the market picture still presents areas of uncertainty. If it is true that all typologies show positive value balances, with sparkling wines at +7.3% since January, still bottled wines at +2.7% and sparkling wines at +12.2%, the average prices (with the exception of bulk and must) are however losing their luster, a sign that the market is not is willing to pay more to compensate for a decidedly light last year in terms of production. Among the positive notes, in this ping-pong of lights and shadows, there is the return to the positive sign for bottled PDO red wines (+2.8% value, to 459 million euros), the double-digit increase in PGI white wines (+12.7%), and the rise of Prosecco (+7.8%) and Asti Docg (+7.5%) among the sparkling wines. “The economic context still requires maximum attention – said the Uiv president, Lamberto Frescobaldi – we believe that in this very fluid phase it is of particular importance for companies to continue monitoring the markets, but also to monitor the price lists, because the long-term objective remains that of improving the positioning of made in Italy wine. At the same time, Uiv is convinced that even in complicated phases like this it is necessary not to abandon the path of strategic investments in the promotion, innovation and restructuring of vineyards”.