Apples: Italia is the world’s leading exporter, ahead of the US and China

Italia tops the global apple export rankings. https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/mele-l-italia-diventa-primo-esportatore-mondo-AI1onwX">As predicted in the estimates at the start of the season, the 2025/26 marketing year sees Italy at the top of the global output rankings.

According to Ismea’s analysis of ITC data, Italy, with a share of 17 per cent of the total value of exports, ranks ahead of the United States (14 per cent) and China (13 per cent), confirming the sector’s strategic importance within the international fruit and vegetable market.

In the 2025/26 season, Italian apples were exported to 86 countries, brilliantly overcoming the logistical challenges that had slowed down and hampered global trade.

The figures show total shipments of approximately 1,060 million kilograms, generating a value of 1.2 billion euros, representing a 2 per cent increase compared with the previous season. The average export price rose by 3 per cent, driven in part by the continued varietal renewal. Alongside traditional cultivars such as Golden Delicious, Gala, Stark, Granny Smith, Cripps Pink and Fuji, newly introduced varieties are in fact gaining a firm foothold in the market, capable of catering to the evolving tastes of global consumers.

From a geographical perspective, the season was characterised by a marked increase in shipments to non-EU countries, which rose by 24 per cent compared with the previous year. This impressive growth was driven by the excellent performance recorded in the Middle East (led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel), Brazil and India, all of which rank amongst our top 10 export markets. Among our European partners, exports to Spain – the second-largest destination market for Italian apples – recorded a very positive performance, with a +10%, whilst there was a decline in shipments to Germany, which nevertheless remains the number one market for Italian apples.