Probably the first months of 2020, marked by the coronavirus emergency, will see the export of made in Italy food heavily penalized (especially to China), but in the meantime in 2019 we brought home the best result ever: our agri-food products, including the wine that experienced an extraordinary year, they were bought and consumed on tables all over the world, for a value of 44,6 billion euros, a good 7% more compared to the good score of the previous year.
The data is official, as it emerges from the definitive analyzes of Istat, which will also be delivered by the insiders to the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and with the Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio for define the internationalization plan in front ofhealth emergency in progress.
The excellent performance was recorded net of international trade tensions and the odious but unfortunately widespread phenomenon of Italian Sounding: in 2020 the new problem to deal with will be the speculations already underway in some countries, where senseless "coronavirus free" health certifications on goods from Lombardy and Veneto. In some areas of the planet there have also been cancellations for supplies from all over the peninsula and psychosis is spreading: this will require an energetic intervention by the Government and Europe, to defend this virtuous and precious business.
In the meantime, however, the data for the year that ended two months ago are exciting, especially those concerning wine, the most exported made in Italy product ever: its export turnover has been estimated at 6,4 billion overall , and exceeds that obtained on the domestic market. The main outlet market for Italian food and drink remains Europe (+3,6%), where almost two thirds of the goods are destined, with Germany being the number one partner.
In and around Berlin alone, our market is worth a good 7,2 billion, and it's worth another 4,7 billion to the USA, in spite of Donald Trump's tariffs, which in 2020 will hit (tariffs +25%) Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano , Gorgonzola, Provolone, Asiago, Fontina, but also salami, mortadella, crustaceans, citrus molluscs, juices and liqueurs such as bitters and limoncello. Brexit, on the other hand, made itself felt: stagnant exports to the United Kingdom, historically a very important market.
But I'm definitely scarier the recessive effects of the coronavirus health emergency, with transport restrictions to try to contain the contagion that they are also reflecting on the logistics of goods with uncertainties and delays that impact trade. Also weighing are the limits on the movements of citizens who change consumption habits especially away from home with a sharp brake on international demand.
Without forgetting the decisions taken by a growing number of countries, most recently the United States, which have caused the collapse of tourism which for Italy has always been a driving element of Made in Italy agri-food abroad for which the important promotional effect of events and fairs in Italy and abroad.
