Istat finds Italy’s wine sector stayed resilient through two decades of agricultural decline

Italy’s wine sector remained one of the country’s steadiest agricultural industries over the past two decades, even as much of Italian farming went through sharp declines and major structural change, according to a new report from Istat, the national statistics institute.

The report, which tracks agricultural and livestock production from 2006 to 2025, shows vineyards and wine output holding up far better than many other crops. Vineyard area fell to 741,395 hectares in 2025 from 786,123 hectares in 2006, a decline of 5.7%. Total grape production dropped to 76.57 million quintals from 83.267 million quintals, down 8%, while average yield slipped 2.5%, from 105.9 to 103.3 quintals per hectare.

The figures were even more stable for grapes grown specifically for winemaking. Land planted with wine grapes declined 2.7%, to 694,333 hectares from 713,673 hectares. Output was almost unchanged, moving from 68.208 million quintals to 66.794 million quintals, a decrease of 2.1%. Average yield edged up 0.6%, from 95.6 to 96.2 quintals per hectare. Table grapes moved in the opposite direction, with both planted area and harvested volumes falling by about 35%.

Wine production itself changed little over the period. Italy produced 47.8 million hectoliters of wine in 2025, compared with 49.6 million hectoliters in 2006, a decline of 3.6% over nearly 20 years. Istat said the numbers show a sector that remained competitive despite a modest reduction in acreage and volumes, especially when compared with other parts of agriculture that saw much deeper losses.

Foreign markets also became more important. Italy exported 21 million hectoliters of wine in 2025, up from 18.8 million hectoliters in 2006. Another 26.7 million hectoliters were directed to the domestic market, while imports were limited to 2.4 million hectoliters. Exports rose to 44 liters out of every 100 liters of Italian wine, up from 39.9 liters in 2006, reflecting the stronger international orientation of the industry.

The geography of grape production also shifted. Northeastern Italy accounted for 41.2% of national grape output in 2025, followed by the South at 29.1%, the Center at 13.1%, the Islands at 9.3%, and the Northwest at 7.3%. Between 2006 and 2025, production in the Northeast rose 25.7% and in the South 1.7%. It fell 22.2% in the Northwest, 15.7% in central Italy, and 41.1% in the Islands. At the European level, Italy represented 33.2% of total grape production in the European Union, placing it among the leading producers alongside France at 23.4% and Spain at 22.3%.

The broader picture for Italian agriculture was much less stable. Among arable crops, production dropped sharply for corn, down 42.7%, soft wheat, down 21.4%, and durum wheat, down 9.3%. Corn was one of the clearest examples of contraction. Acreage was cut by 51.2%, production fell heavily, and yields still rose 17.4%, showing that stronger productivity was not enough to offset the reduction in planted land. Some crops expanded, including soybeans, up 94.6%, single-species forage crops, up 97.1%, waxy corn, up 46%, and legumes, up 34.7%.

Even with those gains, domestic supply did not meet demand in several major commodities. In 2025, Italy imported 97 million quintals of wheat, compared with domestic production of 59.5 million quintals. Corn imports reached 70 million quintals, exceeding the 55 million quintals produced in the country. In 2006, Italy imported fewer than 20 million quintals of corn while producing almost 96 million quintals at home, showing how much the balance has shifted.

Fruit production was among the hardest-hit parts of the sector. Pears fell 60.6%, nectarines 43.5%, peaches 40.7%, hazelnuts 30.3%, almonds 29.7%, and oranges 23.7%. Only a few categories posted gains, including clementines at 20.3%, kiwi at 17.8%, and apples at 13.2%. Pears showed the steepest decline. Production dropped to 3.583 million quintals from 9.104 million quintals, and orchard area shrank 52.8%, to 19,941 hectares from 42,250 hectares. Imports rose sharply at the same time, including peaches at 413.6%, pears at 199.1%, hazelnuts at 144.1%, and almonds at 144.3%.

Olive growing also weakened. Olive acreage slipped only 1.4%, to 1,097,677 hectares from 1,113,396 hectares, but production fell much more sharply. Olive output declined 27.2%, from 34.16 million quintals to 24.868 million quintals, and yield per hectare dropped 26.1%, from 30.7 to 22.7 quintals. Olive oil production fell to 378.6 million liters in 2025 from 603.3 million liters in 2006, a drop of 37.6%. Istat attributed the decline to climate change, plant stress, the spread of pests and diseases, and structural problems in the sector. In 2025, Italy produced about 379 million liters of olive oil, exported 298 million liters, had only 81 million liters of domestic product available for its home market, and imported 565 million liters.

Livestock farming also showed a long-term downsizing in several categories. Sheep numbers fell 28.1%, pigs 15.6%, and cattle 12.2%. Buffalo herds rose 92.6%, and goats increased 3.4%. In meat production, the cattle sector contracted sharply, with the number of animals slaughtered down 37.5% and carcass weight down 40.9%. Sheep and goat meat output fell 56.2%, while pork production declined 16.9%. Poultry moved in the opposite direction. The number of birds slaughtered rose 53%, and production increased 56.8%, with chickens and hens accounting for 89.4% of total output by weight.

Dairy was one of the few areas of clear expansion. Milk collected increased 27.2% between 2006 and 2024, driven by higher productivity per animal, according to Istat. Cow’s milk rose 28.6%, from 101.9 million quintals to 131.1 million quintals. Buffalo milk increased 19.4%, from 1.948 million quintals to 2.326 million quintals, and goat milk climbed 50.4%, from 272,000 quintals to 409,000 quintals. Yield per head for cattle was up 54%. Cheese production increased 17.7%, from 11.54 million quintals to 13.586 million quintals, and cream rose 18%, from 1.301 million quintals to 1.535 million quintals. Butter fell 21.3%, and yogurt and fermented products declined 11.6%.

Despite the broad changes, Italy continued to hold leading positions in several agricultural products across the European Union while using only 8.7% of the bloc’s agricultural land. Istat said Italy accounted for 75.2% of EU hazelnut production, 52.8% of rice, 43.2% of durum wheat, 42.1% of processing tomatoes, 37.9% of soybeans, 33.2% of grapes, and 30.5% of oranges.