Pasta and Bubbles. All the beauty of Italians abroad.

2014 definitively marks the consolidation of foreign markets in terms of the sale of typical products. Sparkling wines become the economic driving force of the entire agri-food sector, with an average overall increase of 22%. A historic record driven by the Prosecco boom, which continues to amaze with its market penetration.

Speaking with several French importers, their increasing interest in Italian sparkling wine for inclusion in their wine lists is evident. There are more and more events in luxury Paris, where Prosecco is sipped. It has now become a trend that no longer faces prejudice, even among our French cousins.

According to Istat data, Italian sparkling wines sell 300 million bottles. Notable increases: China with 195%, the UK with 50%, surpassing the US, which saw a 21% increase. However, a worrying phenomenon is emerging in the country where one would least expect it: Germany. After Prosecco on tap, imitation brands such as Kressecco and Meer Secco are now being marketed. Furthermore, Germany is reducing its consumption of our sparkling wines.

Pasta: the Italian superstar abroad! It is consolidating in historic markets such as the UK, France, Germany, and Japan. These countries together account for almost 60% of all exports. But other dynamic countries are emerging, such as South Asian states, particularly South Korea and China. Israel also shows an excellent performance with +10%. Russia remains the country with the highest increase in imports, at +19%. Brazil is the new frontier in South America, with significant increases of 5%. There is also a rise in typical pasta formats, particularly in regional varieties like Gragnano and artisan Marchigiana pasta.

In both cases, 2014 marked a record year, highlighting the good health of Italian agri-food excellence, particularly our country’s historic raw materials. This performance is increasingly pushing producers to focus on foreign markets while supporting companies that, in this way, can hope for a recovery in Italy.