Italy’s dairy industry delivered an outstanding export performance in 2025, but mounting geopolitical tensions are now threatening to derail its growth trajectory.
According to data released by the Italian dairy producers’ association, Assolatte, Italy exported 680,000 tonnes of cheese in 2025, generating €6.1 billion in value, rising to €6.7 billion when considering the entire dairy sector. Compared with 2024, exports increased by 4.6% in volume and 12.8% in value, confirming the sector’s role as a driving force for Italian agrifood on global markets.
The performance is particularly notable given the broader context: another flagship sector, such as wine, while containing losses, has been forced to slow down amid tariffs, weakening consumption, and ongoing war scenarios. However, the outlook for dairy exports is becoming increasingly uncertain. “The new and growing geopolitical instability in the Gulf area, together with war-related tensions that have altered major maritime routes, is producing immediate and profound impacts on the Italian dairy industry. The surge in energy costs—and consequently transport costs—along with severe logistical delays caused by rerouting around the Red Sea, are putting cheese exports at risk, especially high-value-added fresh products,” Assolatte wrote in a statement. The warning highlights a structural challenge for a sector heavily reliant on efficient global logistics.
Assolatte President Paolo Zanetti underscored the seriousness of the situation: “We are not facing a simple logistical inconvenience: this is a crisis affecting the entire supply chain. Products such as mozzarella, burrata, and stracciatella cannot withstand an additional 10 or 20 days of transit without compromising quality. We risk losing key markets in Asia at the most delicate moment.” Zanetti called for a shift from short-term fixes to long-term solutions: “It is time to move beyond stopgap measures: we need investment in innovation to extend the commercial life of our products, as well as a European energy shield. A more stable Common Agricultural Policy must provide farmers with the certainty they need to plan and invest.”
Despite these risks, Italy has strengthened its competitive positioning. Having overtaken Germany, the country is now the leading exporter in the European Union for extra-EU markets. On a global scale, Italy ranks second by value and third by volume.
Regional dynamics also show diverging trends. The Middle East has emerged as a key growth area, posting a +20% increase, while the United States and China recorded declines linked to tariffs and broader economic conditions.
L’articolo Italian Cheese Exports Hit Record High as War Threatens Momentum proviene da Italianfood.net.