Italian Spirits Exports Reach €1.75 Billion in 2024, Making Italy Fifth Largest Global Exporter

Italian spirits exports reached €1.75 billion in 2024, according to data from Nomisma based on customs records. This performance places Italy as the fifth largest spirits exporter in the world, following the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and the United States. Between 2019 and 2024, Italian spirits exports grew by 41%, one of the highest growth rates among the top five exporting countries.

Italy holds a leading position in the liqueur segment, alongside Germany. The value of Italian liqueur exports reached €547 million in 2024, with a five-year growth rate of 25%, outpacing Germany’s 19% increase over the same period. However, similar to trends seen in the wine sector, 2025 has been less favorable for Italian spirits exports. In the first ten months of the year, export values declined by 5%.

Germany remains the primary destination for Italian spirits, accounting for 21% of total exports. The United States follows with 12%, and the United Kingdom with 8%. Among the top ten export markets, Poland stands out for its rapid growth, with Italian spirits exports to that country increasing by 70% during the same period.

The growing importance of Italian spirits is reflected at Vinitaly’s 58th edition in Verona from April 12 to 15. This year marks the debut of “Xcellent Spirits,” a new business-to-business format designed to integrate spirits more fully into Vinitaly’s offerings. The initiative aims to create direct connections between producers, markets, and professional operators while representing the entire supply chain.

The “Xcellent Spirits” expo is organized into two main areas: “Spirits,” which focuses on distilled beverages, liqueurs, aromatized wines, and fortified wines; and “Drinks & Mix,” which features soft drinks, hard seltzers, and ready-to-drink products. These sections are intended to showcase contemporary consumption trends and highlight opportunities in mixology.

Various events and initiatives are planned throughout Vinitaly to support this new focus on spirits. Gianni Bruno, general director of Veronafiere, described “Xcellent Spirits” as the start of a multi-year strategic plan to enhance the sector’s profile within Vinitaly and ensure its ongoing integration into the trade fair platform. The new structure is designed to evolve over time in response to changing consumption patterns and the growing international relevance of spirits.

Another addition this year is “NoLo - Vinitaly Experience,” developed in collaboration with Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), which will further expand Vinitaly’s reach into emerging beverage categories. Organizers expect these changes to strengthen Italy’s position in global beverage markets and provide new opportunities for producers and industry professionals.