Fruit and vegetables

Apples, Italy becomes the world's leading exporter

According to Ismea in the 2025-26 campaign, thanks to a 16% share, the US and China have been overtaken: exports at EUR 1.2 billion (+19%) and a positive outlook

by Emiliano Sgambato

23 December 2025

L’Italia diventa primo esportatore mondiale di mele

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Italy becomes the world's leading exporter of apples, overtaking the United States and China. According to Ismea, 'the 2025/26 marketing year has started under the best auspices and the reopening, albeit still partial, of the Suez Canal is an encouraging sign for the continuation of the Italian apple trade season.

The trade balance

Apples continue to be the fruit and vegetable product with the best trade balance (which in general remains negative) thanks to exports of almost 1.2 billion Euro (+19% compared to the previous marketing year) representing a 16% share of world exports. This is followed by the United States (14%) and China (13%), ahead of New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Poland, France, the Netherlands and Turkey. At a global level, international trade in apples moves around 7 million tonnes, for a total value of more than 7 billion.
"This extraordinary result - underlines the Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market - came about thanks to the export of more than one million tonnes of apples with a growth in volumes shipped from Italy of 24%".

Among the outlet markets, Germany is confirmed in first place, with a share of 30% of the total value and growth of 26% in volume and 23% in revenue compared to the previous campaign; Spain ranks second, while the third outlet is Saudi Arabia.

According to the latest estimates of Wapa (World apple and pear association), European apple production for the 2025/26 marketing year is expected to stand at just under 11 million tonnes, marking a 5% increase over the forecast released in August.

On the imports front, Italy purchased 28.4 million kg of apples in the 2024/25 marketing year, a value in line with the last three years and up by 9% compared to the previous year. The average price was affected by global market dynamics, increasing by about 3 cents per kilo compared to the previous marketing year, to reach 0.96 €/kg.

Stable and healthy production

According to Istat data, in recent years the areas of apple orchards in production in Italy have stabilised at around 54 thousand hectares, with a marked concentration in the Autonomous Provinces of Bolzano and Trento, which alone account for 49% of the national total. They are followed by Piedmont, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, which together account for about 30% of the production potential, while Campania maintains a distinctive role thanks to the production of the Annurca variety. Overall, no significant changes in production potential emerge with respect to 2024, nor with respect to the average of the last three years.

For 2025, Assomela estimates a national production of2,317,545 tonnes of apples, a value in line with the previous year's and about 5% above the 2022-2024 average.
From a varietal point of view, the Golden Delicious remained the most represented cultivar, followed by the Gala group and the trio Granny Smith, Fuji and Red Delicious. In total, the supply of the new varieties exceeded 300,000 tonnes. Estimates remain partial and will be updated as data on areas and late varieties become available.

Consumption slightly down

Ismea-Niq data on purchases of apples - both loose and packaged - for domestic consumption in the 2024/25 marketing year (August to July) show a slight decrease (-3%) compared to the previous marketing year. In contrast, the average retail price increased by 2%. Household expenditure decreased by 1.3%.

"The 2025/26 marketing year for Italian apples," writes Ismea, "started with a positive outlook, confirming many of the favourable dynamics observed in the previous season". On the varietal front, "the availability of club apples (protected by a varietal patent) continues to grow, an element that allows a stronger segmentation of the offer and the adoption of more targeted marketing strategies".
In addition, "sales within the organised apple-growing system show, since the beginning of the season, a positive trend, in particular on the Italian market, with a decumulation rate substantially in line with that of the previous year".

Emiliano SgambatoResponsabile Food24
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Luogo: Milano
Lingue parlate: Inglese
Argomenti: Agroalimentare, mercato immobiliare, arredo-design
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