Mele, l’Italia diventa primo esportatore mondiale

Italy becomes the world’s leading exporter of apples, overtaking the United States and China. According to Ismea, ‘the 2025/26 marketing year has started under the best auspices and the reopening, albeit still partial, of the Suez Canal is an encouraging sign for the continuation of the Italian apple trade season.

The trade balance

Apples continue to be the fruit and vegetable product with the best trade balance (which in general remains negative) thanks to exports of almost 1.2 billion Euro (+19% compared to the previous marketing year) representing a 16% share of world exports. This is followed by the United States (14%) and China (13%), ahead of New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Poland, France, the Netherlands and Turkey.

At a global level, international trade in apples moves around 7 million tonnes, for a total value of more than 7 billion.

“This extraordinary result – underlines the Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market – came about thanks to the export of more than one million tonnes of apples with a growth in volumes shipped from Italy of 24%”.

Among the outlet markets, Germany is confirmed in first place, with a share of 30% of the total value and growth of 26% in volume and 23% in revenue compared to the previous campaign; Spain ranks second, while the third outlet is Saudi Arabia.

According to the latest estimates of Wapa (World apple and pear association), European apple production for the 2025/26 marketing year is expected to stand at just under 11 million tonnes, marking a 5% increase over the forecast released in August.

On the imports front, Italy purchased 28.4 million kg of apples in the 2024/25 marketing year, a value in line with the last three years and up by 9% compared to the previous year.

The average price was affected by global market dynamics, increasing by about 3 cents per kilo compared to the previous marketing year, to reach 0.96 €/kg.

Gala and Fiji are top tier apples tbh. But recently Kiss apple is really getting popular so won’t be surprised if in the next 5 years France is also hovering in top 3, it took a long time for gala and fiji to establish themselves as well. Washington is absolute garbage tier and I have no idea why its so high up.

Also I live in saudi arabia and Fiji/Gala propaganda is very strong. No wonder we are third biggest importer

Edit : Keep downvoting me salty Americans. Won’t make your apples anything more than hard foam.

As an Italian, if only they weren’t selling apples that today are basically as big as a melon I’d be happier.

That’s wild, I always associate Italy more with citrus and grapes than apples. Makes me wonder how much of this is Trentino, Alto Adige. Someone should start proper “apple tourism” routes there.