Italian Wine Exports Suffer Nearly 12% Drop as Global Demand Weakens

Italian wine exports are facing a sharp decline, with new data from Nomisma Wine Monitor showing a drop of nearly 12% in value for 2025. The total volume of exports is now around €5.5 billion. This downturn comes as Italian wine producers deal with a combination of trade tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and growing logistical challenges.

The impact is being felt across the industry. If exports continue to slow and international shipping remains unstable, the upcoming harvest expected between late August and September 2026 could result in a surplus of wine that will be difficult to sell abroad. Diego Cusumano, a well-known Sicilian winemaker and co-owner of Cusumano winery, highlighted these concerns. He pointed out that the global wine market has shown clear signs of slowing down, with a nearly 12% drop in value and the market settling at about €5.5 billion.

Several key markets for Italian wine are seeing reduced demand. In the United States, which is the largest non-European market for Italian wine, export volumes fell by 2.6% and values dropped by 6.2%. In Asia, China saw a decrease of more than 15% in value for Italian wine imports, while Japan’s imports dropped by 2.2% in volume and 1.7% in value. The United Kingdom, Italy’s second-largest export market for wine, recorded a decline of about 6% in both volume and value. Switzerland also saw a similar decrease of around 6% in value.

There are some exceptions to this trend. Brazil’s imports of Italian wine grew by 3.5% in volume and 1.9% in value, while South Korea increased its imports by 5.3%. However, these gains are not enough to offset losses in traditional markets.

Logistical problems are adding to the difficulties faced by exporters. According to Cusumano, ongoing conflict in the Middle East and broader geopolitical instability are making international trade routes less accessible. He explained that tariffs and rising prices have already slowed exports, but now there is also the threat of supply chain disruptions due to fewer available carriers and higher transportation costs.

Even when there is demand for Italian wine abroad, getting bottles shipped has become increasingly complicated. This situation is especially worrying as the next harvest approaches. Producers fear that if they cannot move their product efficiently, they will face significant surpluses after the 2026 harvest.

Cusumano noted that while some types of wine can be aged and stored for longer periods, this is not possible for all varieties or producers. The risk is that large quantities of unsold wine could affect not just individual wineries but the entire Italian food and beverage sector.

Industry leaders share these concerns. Matteo Lunelli, CEO of Gruppo Lunelli and president of Ferrari Trento, said that war and instability are likely to have broader economic effects as well. He pointed out that transport problems could worsen as strategic routes are compromised, consumer confidence drops, energy costs rise, and important markets like the Middle East become harder to reach.

The Middle East has been one of the fastest-growing markets for premium Italian products in recent years. Disruptions there could have an outsized impact on high-end producers.

Concerns about oversupply have been raised before. Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), warned earlier this year that Italy already has more than 40 million hectoliters of wine in storage. If the next harvest produces an average yield—about 50 million hectoliters—the country could end up with around 90 million hectoliters available by year’s end. Such a large supply would put significant downward pressure on prices and threaten profitability across the sector.

The slowdown in Italian wine exports is being driven by several factors: trade tariffs imposed by key partners, ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global trade flows, high energy costs impacting production and shipping expenses, and persistent difficulties with international logistics.

With major markets like the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Switzerland all reducing their purchases of Italian wine, producers are left searching for new opportunities while managing growing inventories at home.

As Italy heads into another harvest season with high stocks already on hand and no clear resolution to trade or transport issues in sight, many in the industry worry about how they will manage potential surpluses without further damaging prices or profitability. The coming months will be critical as producers watch both global demand trends and developments in international logistics that could shape their prospects through 2026 and beyond.