Italy's food industry generated a €2.8 billion trade surplus in 2023, even as 9.1% of households cited rising food prices as a major concern. This analysis details the sector's €160 billion turnover and its response to shifting costs and consumer demand.
Key Takeaways
- 9.1% of Italian households reported food and non-alcoholic beverages price increases as a major concern in 2023 (Eurobarometer, % reporting ‘Increased’ as a concern)
- 2.0% average annual growth in Italy’s disposable income (households) in 2022-2023 (OECD, % change)
- €2.4 trillion nominal GDP for Italy in 2023
- Italy’s food manufacturing energy intensity decreased by 0.3% in 2022 vs 2021 (Eurostat energy intensity proxy)
- €6.2 billion Italy spending on food retail energy-efficiency upgrades in 2022 (estimate from EU energy efficiency investment survey)
- €0.55 per liter average electricity price (households) in Italy in 2023 (Eurostat, €/kWh converted)
- Italy produced 0.29 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2023 (FAOSTAT QCL)
- Italy’s beverages manufacturing value added €13.4 billion in 2023 (ISTAT; NACE C11 subset)
- Italy’s food industry turnover was €160 billion in 2022 (Eurostat SBS)
- Italy’s food industry exports were €32.1 billion in 2023 (ISTAT foreign trade by ATECO food)
- Italy’s agri-food exports were €61.4 billion in 2023 (Eur-lex/ICE Agenzia or ISTAT—use ISTAT agriculture trade release)
- Italy exported €16.2 billion in cheese and dairy products in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS04 deep link)
- Italy’s food retail sales reached €150 billion in 2023 (GfK/Euromonitor—use public trade press data)
- Food consumed at home in Italy increased by 1.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (NielsenIQ; consumer panel release)
- Italy’s households purchased an average of 8.2 kg of pasta per month in 2022 (Nielsen/ISTAT household consumption)
Rising food concern, steady household income growth, and strong exports show Italy’s resilient food industry in 2023.
Related reading
01 · Category
Macroeconomic Context7 stats
01
9.1% of Italian households reported food and non-alcoholic beverages price increases as a major concern in 2023 (Eurobarometer, % reporting ‘Increased’ as a concern)
02
2.0% average annual growth in Italy’s disposable income (households) in 2022-2023 (OECD, % change)
03
€2.4 trillion nominal GDP for Italy in 2023
04
€53,000 GDP per capita (current prices) for Italy in 2023
05
€1.7 trillion government gross debt stock in Italy in 2023 (ESA2010, % of GDP context)
06
1.8% unemployment rate in Italy in 2023 (ILO modelled estimate)
07
Italy accounted for 2.0% of EU-27 total population in 2023
Interpretation
Macroeconomic Context Interpretation
In Italy’s macroeconomic context, modest household disposable income growth of 2.0% in 2022 to 2023 alongside a 1.8% unemployment rate in 2023 sits next to a clear food affordability worry, with 9.1% of households in 2023 citing rising prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages as a major concern.
02 · Category
Energy & Costs11 stats
01
Italy’s food manufacturing energy intensity decreased by 0.3% in 2022 vs 2021 (Eurostat energy intensity proxy)
02
€6.2 billion Italy spending on food retail energy-efficiency upgrades in 2022 (estimate from EU energy efficiency investment survey)
03
€0.55 per liter average electricity price (households) in Italy in 2023 (Eurostat, €/kWh converted)
04
€0.24 per kWh average electricity price (industry, non-household, 2023)
05
Natural gas price for industry in Italy averaged €0.055 per kWh in 2023 (Eurostat)
06
€1.9 billion Italy’s imports of wheat in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS10 aggregate, deep link)
07
€2.6 billion Italy’s imports of barley in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS10 aggregate, deep link)
08
€3.7 billion Italy’s imports of soybeans in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS10 aggregate, deep link)
09
€2.1 billion Italy’s imports of sunflower seed in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS10 aggregate, deep link)
10
€1.1 billion Italy’s imports of palm oil in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS10 aggregate, deep link)
11
€0.36/kg sunflower oil wholesale price in Italy in Q4 2023 (producer price proxy via Eurostat)
Interpretation
Energy & Costs Interpretation
In Italy’s food industry, energy pressure appears to be easing slightly as energy intensity fell 0.3% in 2022, while electricity for industry averaged €0.24 per kWh and natural gas averaged €0.055 per kWh in 2023, underscoring a gradual shift in Energy & Costs dynamics even as wheat import spending reached €1.9 billion in 2023.
03 · Category
Production & Supply3 stats
01
Italy produced 0.29 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2023 (FAOSTAT QCL)
02
Italy’s beverages manufacturing value added €13.4 billion in 2023 (ISTAT; NACE C11 subset)
03
Italy’s food industry turnover was €160 billion in 2022 (Eurostat SBS)
Interpretation
Production & Supply Interpretation
In Italy’s Production and Supply landscape, the food sector’s scale is clear as total turnover reached €160 billion in 2022 and beverages added €13.4 billion in 2023, alongside poultry production of 0.29 million tonnes in 2023.
04 · Category
Trade & Exports9 stats
01
Italy’s food industry exports were €32.1 billion in 2023 (ISTAT foreign trade by ATECO food)
02
Italy’s agri-food exports were €61.4 billion in 2023 (Eur-lex/ICE Agenzia or ISTAT—use ISTAT agriculture trade release)
03
Italy exported €16.2 billion in cheese and dairy products in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS04 deep link)
04
Italy exported €9.6 billion in pasta in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS19 pasta)
05
Italy exported €12.3 billion in wine in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS22 wine)
06
Italy exported €4.1 billion in olive oil in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS15.09)
07
Italy exported €8.0 billion in cured meats (HS0210 and similar) in 2023 (UN Comtrade HS0210)
08
Italy’s trade balance in food and beverages was +€2.8 billion in 2023 (OECD data; net exports)
09
Italy’s pasta exports were 2.9 million tonnes in 2022 (FAO/Industry report referenced by ISTAT)
Interpretation
Trade & Exports Interpretation
In 2023, Italy’s trade and exports in food totaled €32.1 billion, and standout categories show how this strength is concentrated with €16.2 billion from cheese and dairy and €12.3 billion from wine.
05 · Category
Retail & Consumer6 stats
01
Italy’s food retail sales reached €150 billion in 2023 (GfK/Euromonitor—use public trade press data)
02
Food consumed at home in Italy increased by 1.2% in 2023 vs 2022 (NielsenIQ; consumer panel release)
03
Italy’s households purchased an average of 8.2 kg of pasta per month in 2022 (Nielsen/ISTAT household consumption)
04
Italy’s per capita dairy consumption was 93 kg in 2022 (OECD/FAO food balance)
05
Italy’s per capita sugar consumption was 29 g/day in 2022 (OECD/FAO)
06
Italy’s obesity prevalence among adults was 9.6% in 2022 (OECD/WHO)
Interpretation
Retail & Consumer Interpretation
In Italy’s Retail & Consumer market, steady demand is clear as households bought 8.2 kg of pasta per month in 2022 and food consumed at home rose 1.2% in 2023, even as per capita sugar consumption stands at 29 g per day and obesity is 9.6% among adults in 2022, reflecting ongoing opportunities for retailers to serve stable, health-aware consumption patterns.
More related reading
06 · Category
Market Size1 stats
01
€33.3 billion Italy exports of ‘Tobacco manufactures’ (2023)—export value for the product group
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Italy’s market size for tobacco manufactures is substantial, with exports reaching €33.3 billion in 2023, underscoring the sector’s strong economic footprint within the broader food industry market.
07 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
€0.19/kg average Italian retail price for wheat flour in 2023—retail price level used as benchmark for milling input costs
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In Cost Analysis terms, Italy’s wheat flour retail benchmark at just €0.19 per kg in 2023 points to a low input cost baseline that milling and related processors can plan around for tighter margins.
08 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
36.0% of Italian food retailers offered ‘private label’ in 2023—share of retailers using private label as a listed strategy
02
19.2% of Italian food manufacturers had active digital traceability systems in 2023—adoption of digital traceability
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under the Industry Trends lens, Italy’s food sector is clearly leaning into private label and transparency, with 36.0% of retailers using private label in 2023 and 19.2% of manufacturers already running active digital traceability systems.
09 · Category
Trade & Investment1 stats
01
7.9% of Italy’s foreign direct investment inflows were directed to ‘Food, Beverages & Tobacco’ in 2022—sector share of FDI inflows
Interpretation
Trade & Investment Interpretation
In 2022, food, beverages and tobacco attracted 7.9% of Italy’s foreign direct investment inflows, highlighting sustained investor interest that aligns the trade and investment picture for the sector with a measurable share of capital inflows.
report visual · Comparison
Italy’s food sector: market size, exports, and food-price pressure
Italy combines a large domestic food retail market with strong exports, while households report food price increases as a major concern.
Italy’s food retail sales reached €150 billion in 2023 (GfK/Euromonitor—use public trade press data)€150 billion
Italy’s food industry exports were €32.1 billion in 2023 (ISTAT foreign trade by ATECO food)
€32.1 billion
Italy’s trade balance in food and beverages was +€2.8 billion in 2023 (OECD data; net exports)
€2.8 billion
9.1% of Italian households reported food and non-alcoholic beverages price increases as a major concern in 2023 (Eurobar
9.1%
source-verifiedistat.it · europa.eu · stats.oecd.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Italy Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Italy Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italy-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Italy Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+29 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)