DOP Economy Italy: € 20.7 billion in 2024

The overall value of the DOP economy

The Italian DOP economy reached in 2024 a  production value of 20.7 billion euros – equivalent to  19% of the national agri-food sector – with a growth of  +3.5% year-on-year and an increase of  +25.3% compared to 2020.

This extraordinary result is the outcome of the work of  183,823 operators active in certified supply chains, generating employment for 864,441 people.

The Italian Geographical Indications system comprises a total of  897 certified products, divided into:

• 331 agri-food (174 DOP, 153 IGP and 4 STG)

• 530 wine products (411 DOP and 119 IGP) and

• 36 spirit drinks GI.

328 protection consortia are authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry.

DOP, IGP and STG agri-food products

DOP, IGP and STG agri-food products reached in 2024 a  production value of 9.64 billion euros, with an increase of +7.7% compared to 2023 and a trend of +48% since 2014. Particularly significant is also the  consumption value, which surpassed  18.58 billion euros with a growth of  +6.5% year-on-year.

The certified food sector involves  86,346 operators and generates work for  597,250 people, organized through  189 Protection Consortia and monitored by 36 control bodies operating nationwide.

Cheeses dominate the sector

DOP, IGP and STG cheeses constitute the fundamental pillar of certified Italian food, representing  60.8% of the total value with  5.86 billion euros in production, growing by  +10.5% compared to 2023. The certified dairy sector counts 57 products registered, among which stand out:

• Grana Padano PDO. 2.19 billion euros production value with an extraordinary increase of +23.3% and a certified production of 208,100 tons;

• Parmigiano Reggiano PDO. 1.76 billion euros (+10.1%) and 160,007 tons produced;

• Campana Bufala Mozzarella PDO. 529 million euros (+0.2%);

• Gorgonzola PDO. 460 million euros (+7.1%).

Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano alone represent almost 41% of the total value of Made in Italy food with registered Geographical Indications.

Cold cuts and meat products

The meat-based products sector, with  44 denominations registered, generated in 2024 a  production value of 2.25 billion euros, representing 23.3% of certified food despite a slight decrease of -0.9% compared to 2023:

• the Prosciutto di Parma PDO maintains the leadership with 860 million euros, although contracting by -9.5% with a certified production of 67,288 tons;

• the Prosciutto di San Daniele PDO, against the trend, reaches 402 million euros with a growth of  +8,5% and 27,705 tons produced;

• the  Mortadella Bologna PGI stands at 343 million euros (+1.1%) with 35,533 tons of product;

• Bresaola della Valtellina PGI growing (+12.1%) with 253 million euros for 12,639 tons;

• Speck Alto Adige PGI in turn grows (+12.8%) with 114 million euros and 12,669 tons.

Fruit and vegetable produce and cereals growing

The certified DOP and PGI fruit and vegetable sector generated in 2024 a  production value of 392 million euros, marking a growth of  +6.0% year on year and representing  4.1% of the food sector certified.

with  128 products registered, DOP and PGI fruit, vegetables and cereals constitute over a third of Italian food certifications, confirming the wealth and variety of the national productive heritage. The  South Tyrol Apple PGI confirms itself as the sector leader with  91 million euros (+12.9%) and a certified production of  181,875 tons.

The year 2024 saw significant growth in several categories: the  citrus fruits recorded a  +17%, the  vegetables a  +16%, the  summer fruits a  +29%, the  tomatoes a  +30% and the  potatoes a  +7%. Conversely, the  nuts which suffered a severe contraction of  -47%.

Other strategic sectors

The  balsamic vinegars recorded in 2024 a production value of 386 million euros, growing by  +7,9% after the decline recorded in 2023. TheBalsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI produced 94.4 million liters with an increase of +7.8%.

The  pasta products certified reached  307 million euros (+11.0%), with the Gragnano Pasta PGI which alone produced 108,119 tons (+11.0%).

Particularly significant is the performance of the  olive oils DOP and IGP, with  50 denominations registered that generated a production value of 194 million euros, almost doubled compared to 2023 with an increase of  +46,9%.

The  fresh meats reached 117 million euros (+4.3%), while the products of bakery and pastry stood at  116 million euros (+0.7%) (Ismea & Fondazione Qualivita, 2025).

Exports exceed 5 billion euros

Italian DOP IGP agri-food exports reached in 2024  5.15 billion with a growth of  +12.7% year on year and a trend of  +91% since 2014. Exports to theEuropean Union totaled 3.02 billion euros (+9.4%), representing the  59% of the total, while exports to extra-EU reached 2.14 billion euros with an even stronger growth of +17.8%, reaching  41% of total exports.

The strategic export destinations

The  United States remain the primary destination market for Italian Geographical Indications with  930 million euros in exports, growing by  +16,0%. Close behind is the  Germany in second place with  855 million euros and a marked growth (+22,0%), followed by  France with  695 million euros (+15.0%). The  Spain represents the fourth market with 265 million euros (+17.0%), while the Netherlands total 117 million euros (+6.7%). Particularly significant is the growth of Sweden which, with  84 million euros, marks an extraordinary increase of  +63,0% compared to the previous year.

Export composition by category

I cheeses dominate exports with 3.04 billion euros (+16.0%), equal to 59% of total certified agri-food exports. The export share of cheeses on total production stands at 42%, confirming the strong international vocation of the Italian dairy sector. The  balsamic vinegars reach 889 million euros (+8.7%), representing 17.3% of total exports, with an extraordinary export share of 93% on total production, which demonstrates the predominantly international dimension of this sector. The meat-based products total 656 million euros (+9.2%) with an export share of 19%. In strong growth The  fruit and vegetable products and cereals with 244 million euros (+25.1%) and the  olive oils with 102 million euros (+25.3%).

DOP and IGP wines

DOP and IGP wines generated in 2024 a  production value of 11.04 billion euros, essentially stable (+0.1% year-on-year), with bottled production of 25.6 million hectolitres, slightly down (-1.0%).

The Italian wine sector counts  530 geographical indications registered and involves 97,236 operators with  330,587 employees.

Thecertified wine export reached  7.19 billion euros, registering a drop of -5.2% compared to 2023, reflecting the sector's cyclical difficulties.

Export of wine and spirits

Considering the total of DOP IGP wine and spirits with Geographical Indication, thetotal export reached  12.3 billion euros in 2024, with a growth of  +8.2% compared to 2023 and an increase of  +24.3% since 2020.

The  United States represent the first market with 2.76 billion euros (+12.3%), followed by  Germany with 1.81 billion (+10.9%), from  United Kingdom with 1.02 billion (+2.6%), from  France with 956 million (+9.1%) and from  Canada with 527 million (+12.9%).

These five markets alone absorb over 60% of exports total of certified Italian wine and spirits.

Territorial distribution of value

TheEmilia-Romagna confirms itself as the first Italian region for DOP economy value with 3.54 billion euros, equal to about 37% of the national value as well as an increase of +20,0%, thanks to leadership in the dairy and cured meats sectors. The  Lombardy ranks second with 2.41 billion euros (+4.0%), followed by  Campania with 846 million (+3.0%), from  Veneto with 573 million (+10.0%) and from  Friuli Venezia Giulia with 436 million (+8.0%). The  Sardinia totals 405 million although registering a decline of -9.0%.

The report highlights that the DOP economy is growing in  two out of three Italian provinces, confirming the widespread diffusion of the certified production model throughout the national territory.

Italy’s primacy in the European Union

with  897 Geographical Indications (GI) registered in the agri-food sector as of November 11, 2025, Italy firmly maintains the European lead in number of recognitions, followed by  France which counts 775, the  Spain with 393, the  Greece with 283 and the  Portugal with 210. In the overall European landscape there are  3,751 total GIs registered, of which 3,484 come from European Union countries and 271 from 24 non-EU countries.

During 2025 Italy has registered  6 new denominations: in the agri-food sector the Trentino Salted Meat PGI, the Liguria Taggiasca Olives PGI and the Basilicata Strawberry PGI (Basilicata); in the wine sector the Cirò Classico PDO (Calabria) and Casauria PDO (Abruzzo); in spirits the Ciociara Ratafia GI (Lazio).

Dario Dongo

References

• Ismea & Qualivita Foundation. (2025).  ISMEA-Qualivita 2025 Report on Italian agri-food and wine PDO, PGI and TSG productions (23rd ed.). Qualivita Editions. https://www.ismea.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252Fe%252F8%252FD.fefdd2e7c08546544955/P/BLOB%3AID%3D13512/E/pdf?mode=download