L’anno 2024 segna un nuovo record per le esportazioni italiane di ortofrutta fresca che superano per la prima volta i 6 miliardi di euro di valore, con un incremento del 5,3% rispetto al 2023. Crescono anche i volumi, con un export di 3.751.017 tonnellate (+9%). I dati sono stati comunicati da Fruitimprese.
D’altra parte il settore è sempre più condizionato dalle importazioni che sfondano il tetto dei 4 milioni di tonnellate (+8,9%) e salgono del 12,9% in valore (5,692 mld di euro). Il saldo della bilancia commerciale rimane negativo in volume (importate 362.140 tons in più di ortofrutta fresca rispetto all’export) e si dimezza in valore, attestandosi a poco più di 364 mln di euro, in discesa del 48.6%.
Le performance dei comparti
La frutta fresca, in controtendenza con gli altri comparti, cresce di più in valore (+8,7%) che in volume (+6,3%); molto bene le esportazioni di agrumi che salgono del 18,8% in quantità e del 11,4% in valore. Tuberi, legumi e ortaggi vedono incrementare le esportazioni del 12,1% in volume e confermano il dato in valore. Recupera la frutta secca le cui esportazioni segnano un ottimo +13,7% in volume ma in valore aumenta solamente dello 0,3%. Continua la crescita dell’export della frutta tropicale con un +9,5% in volume e + 8,8% in valore.
Bene le mele, kiwi in difficoltà
Molto bene le esportazioni di mele che superano il miliardo di euro, in crescita del 12,18%. Male invece i kiwi, le cui esportazioni perdono quasi 1/4 delle quantità (-24,54%) e scendono del 3,27% in valore. Incidono il calo marcato delle produzioni dovuto alle fitopatie e all’attacco degli insetti e il contributo decisivo in termini di valore del kiwi giallo e rosso. Sull’uva da tavola scendono i volumi (-4.31%), ma salgono significativamente i valori, (+13,44%), dato che premia la scelta di privilegiare nuove varietà più remunerative.
Per quanto riguarda gli agrumi, i numeri dell’export di arance rimangono costanti (-0,58% in quantità e -5,64% in valore); crescono invece in modo significativo quelli dei limoni (+12,14% in volume e +5,36% in valore).
Molto bene l’export di pesche e nettarine, che supera le 100mila tonnellate. L’incremento attribuibile alle nuove varietà e a un innalzamento generale della qualità è piuttosto marcato: +37,1% in volume e +25,53% in valore. Ancora in discesa, infine, i dati dell’export di pere a causa delle note problematiche produttive legate alle fitopatie e alle gelate.
L’import
Passando all’import, continuano a scendere (-9,7% in volume e -16,3% in valore) le importazioni degli agrumi. Per tuberi legumi e ortaggi l’import sale del 17,9% in quantità e del 14,6% in valore. Cresce significativamente il valore della frutta fresca importata, con un +16% a fronte di un +6,5 in volume. Riparte l’import di frutta secca rispetto al 2023 con un +11,1% in quantità e +21,3% in valore. Bene anche la frutta tropicale +3,4% in volume e +6,5% in valore. Costanti i dati per banane e ananas; ancora molto bene l’import di avocado, ormai secondo prodotto tropicale per valore importato (oltre 161 milioni di euro, in crescita di 1/3)
Salvi: “L’Ue acceleri l’accordo sul regolamento delle Tea: in 10 anni perso l’80% delle pere, il 75% del kiwi e il 25% delle pesche”
Il presidente Marco Salvi sottolinea che il record di oltre 6 miliardi di euro di valore esportato assume un significato ancora più rilevante al cospetto delle crescenti difficoltà che stanno affliggendo gli operatori, come l’impossibilità di utilizzare il Canale di Suez che ha limitato fortemente le spedizioni di mele e kiwi verso l’India e gli altri Paesi del Sud-Est asiatico.
“A preoccupare il settore sono però altre problematiche, stiamo assistendo infatti a una inesorabile progressiva riduzione delle produzioni, negli ultimi 10 anni abbiamo perso il 80% del raccolto di pere, il 75% di kiwi e il 25% pesche. Ormai il nostro problema principale sui mercati internazionali non è collocare il prodotto a un prezzo remunerativo, ma avere il prodotto da vendere, tanto che le aziende più strutturate stanno acquistando aziende agricole e creando joint venture all’estero per poter continuare a presidiare i mercati”.
L’appello è all’Ue a non limitare l’uso degli agrofarmaci, senza fornire soluzioni alternative percorribili. E a velocizzare l’accordo sul regolamento comunitario relativo alle Tea. “Qualche speranza arriva dal recente discorso di insediamento del commissario europeo Hansen, il quale ha dichiarato pubblicamente che la Commissione valuterà attentamente (con alcuni distinguo) qualsiasi ulteriore divieto di pesticidi qualora non siano ancora disponibili alternative”.
Record for Italian fruit and vegetable exports, over 6 billion Euros in 2024
Volumes, too, are growing by 9%, but the increase in plant diseases due to climate change is worrying. The president of Fruitimprese, Marco Salvi, said: ‘The new EU strategy on agrochemicals and the opening to Tea are beneficial’
In a difficult context, between war conflicts and geopolitical tensions, increasing logistics costs, with the risk of a dangerous upward game of protectionist barriers, fresh fruit and vegetables recorded a record increase for Italian exports in 2024 (source Fruitimprese), exceeding 6 billion Euros in value for the first time, with a growth by 5.3% compared to 2023. Volumes are also growing, 3,751,017 tons (+9%). On the other hand, this sector is increasingly conditioned by imports that have broken through the ceiling of 4 million tons (+8.9%) and increased by 12.9% in value (5.692 billion Euros). The trade balance remains negative in volume (362,140 more tons of fresh fruit and vegetables imported compared to exports) and has halved in value, settling at just over 364 million Euros, with a decrease by 48.6%.
Fresh fruit, in contrast with other sectors, is growing more in value (+8.7%) than in volume (+6.3%); citrus fruit exports are doing very well, increasing by 18.8% in quantity and 11.4% in value. Tubers, legumes and vegetables are seeing exports increase by 12.1% in volume and confirming the data in value. Dried fruit is recovering, with exports marking an excellent +13.7% in volume, but increasing in value by only 0.3%. The growth of tropical fruit exports continues, with +9.5% in volume and +8.8% in value. Marco Salvi, president of Fruitimprese, explained: ‘The positive result depends on the professionalism of Italian operators who are emerging as international players capable of managing market demands even in situations of low production. We had a good apple campaign that recorded double-digit increases in exports in volume and value, a relaunch of our peaches and nectarines on the Northern European markets, and more than encouraging data in terms of value for table grapes, thanks to the new seedless varieties, as well as for kiwis, for which good news comes from the commercial data of yellow-fleshed fruits’.
Considering the most exported fruit and vegetable products, apples exceed one billion Euros, with an increase by 12.1%. Kiwis are suffering overall, with exports losing almost 1/4 of their quantities (-24.5%) and decreasing by 3.2% in value: the sharp drop in production due to plant diseases and insect attacks is having an impact. Volumes of table grapes are decreasing (-4.3%), but values are rising significantly (+13.4%), with a figure that rewards the choice to favor new, more profitable varieties.
As for citrus fruits, the export figures for oranges remain constant (-0.5% in quantity and -5.6% in value); on the other hand, those for lemons are growing significantly (+12.1% in volume and +5.3% in value). Exports of peaches and nectarines are recording very good results, exceeding 100 thousand tons. The increase attributable to new varieties and a general improvement of quality is quite marked: +37.1% in volume and +25.5% in value. Finally, pear export data are still dropping due to the well-known production problems linked to plant diseases and frost.
New phytosanitary agreements
Despite the return to protectionist closures, good indications come from the progress of phytosanitary agreements that allow Made in Italy products to be brought to new markets. ‘After 10 years of negotiations, the Brazilian market was recently opened to our plums, thanks to the valuable work of the phytosanitary table of which Fruitimprese is a member together with Assomela, Alleanza delle Cooperative, and Cso. Now the work shifts to table grapes. China is always an ambitious goal for us: after the signing of the protocol concerning pears, for which we are finalizing the last details, negotiations for apples have begun, but we know that the times are very long’. International trade tensions do not help the opening of markets, with the WTO continuing to lose authority under the blows of Trump’s administration. ‘From this point of view, the damage to fresh fruit and vegetable exports is real, but it is not comparable, for example, to that caused by the closure of the Russian market in 2014: as for kiwis alone, we export to the United States for a value of around 30 million Euros. On the other hand, the damage to importers is very serious, especially for almonds, which the European Union has included among the products that will be subject to duty increases planned as a countermeasure to Trump’s protectionist policy’.
The issue of cutting agrochemicals
The difficulties that are affecting operators, such as the possibility of using the Suez Canal, which has severely limited shipments of apples and kiwis to India and other Countries in Southeast Asia, regulatory issues are also on the table and refer to EU’s choices. First and foremost, there is the issue of ‘cutting’ agrochemicals. According to a recent report proposed by Aretè for Agrofarma, in Italy there are around 300 approved active substances, which represent 75% less than the over 1,000 active substances available 30 years ago. And in Europe currently ‘200 active substances used for crop protection are being renewed, but there is pressure for their revocation’, as reported by the president of Fedagripesca Confcooperative, Raffaele Drei. From Fruit Logistica, he asked for a five-year moratorium on the process of revoking active substances. ‘We are witnessing an inexorable progressive reduction in production, in the last 10 years we have lost 80% of pear harvest, 75% of kiwis, and 25% of peaches. Much damage has already been done, some molecules essential for our products have already been banned, forcing the most far-sighted States to grant authorizations notwithstanding the current regulations, creating unfair competition within the Union market itself’. Some hope comes from the recent inauguration speech of European Commissioner Hansen, who publicly declared that the Commission will carefully evaluate (with some distinctions) any further ban on pesticides if alternatives are not yet available. ‘It could represent the first step towards a broader reform of the matter, which should also include a uniform application of the measures. We are referring to the often-cited reciprocity, which must not only concern the product imported from Third Countries, but also our European competitors, providing that, when an active substance is allowed in one Member State, it is also automatically allowed in the other ones’.
First steps to regulate new genomic techniques
Strong expectations come from the green light from the European Council to the negotiating mandate that will allow the Polish Presidency to start the discussion with the European Parliament on new genomic techniques (Ngt), long-awaited by operators to more effectively combat the growth of pathogens due to climate change. This decision has seen the applause, among the various trade associations, of Coldiretti and Filiera Italia. Some representatives of these organizations stated: ‘The new genomic techniques have nothing to do with the old GMOs, but allow us to reproduce the mechanisms of natural selection in a targeted way to respond to growing environmental and production challenges’. Confagricoltura, with its president Massimiliano Giansanti, also highlighted the positive turning point: ‘We have always maintained that we need to experiment and use all the fruits of science and research, so as to enable our farmers to produce more at a lower cost and compete on international markets’. Marco Salvi pointed out: ‘This starts a process that will last a few years before providing truly applicable solutions for our productions. We have been waiting for this moment since last year’.
