Pecorino Romano is worth 600 million euro, production up 7%.
In the USA + 25% in 6 months, but the domestic market is also expanding. The PDO Consortium: strong signs of stability and encouraging prospects for the future
3' min read
3' min read
Pecorino Romano DOP grows in the US market and flies in the domestic market. It is no coincidence that at the Consortium for the Protection of Pecorino Romano, those in charge speak of excellent results, referring to the results of the 2023-2024 production campaign. Encouraging numbers 'that give the markets a strong signal of stability and set encouraging premises for the future, both in Italy and abroad'.
In the last campaign 297 million litres of sheep's milk were collected, an increase of 11.56% compared to the previous year. Of these, 229 million litres, or 77%, were processed into Pecorino Romano DOP, for a quantity of 392 thousand quintals: a figure up by 7.1% compared to the previous year, for a market value of more than 600 million Euro. The most significant growth figures are recorded in the domestic market, where the product is 'depopulated'.
"The national market, where Pecorino Romano cheese accounts for 40% of production, is growing," emphasises the President of the Consortium for the Protection of Pecorino Romano DOP Gianni Maoddi. In Italy our cheese is experiencing a very happy season, rediscovered as a product that is not only indispensable for typical dishes,from Carbonara to Amatriciana, from Cacio e Pepe to Gricia, but also as a product to be enjoyed on its own, the star of hors d'oeuvres and aperitifs, fundamental for the market of sauces and dressings, with a growing demand even from young people".
What will make the difference on production and sales will be the foreign markets.In the United States, from January to July 2024 there was an increase in sales of 25.6%, for a total quantity of almost eighty thousand quintals (63 thousand in the previous campaign), therefore an increase of about 17 thousand quintals. "This result is due to the stabilisation of prices during this campaign and a greater availability of product," adds Maoddi. "After the peaks recorded last year of up to EUR 14-15 per kilo, the market price has settled at around EUR 12.5, which has favoured an increase in demand. This shows that, if prices are too high, there is a risk of exiting the market, as consumers who do not have large stocks immediately look for alternatives'.
As for distribution, the domestic market is worth 40%, the American 35%, and the European 16%. Nine per cent of the product ends up on markets in the rest of the world.
