Shipments close to breaking through the €1bn milestone, visitors to Italian grape event Regina di Puglia told
Italian table grape exports hit €973mn in 2025 – an 8.5 per cent increase year-on-year – powered by robust European demand and an accelerating transition toward packaged seedless varieties.
According to new data presented by ISMEA analyst Mario Schiano Lo Moriello at the Regina di Puglia event in Noicattaro, total export volume surged 16 per cent to 436,860 tonnes, expanding Italy’s trade balance surplus in the sector to €911mn.
Total national output reached 1mn tonnes across 46,900ha, with production heavily concentrated in Puglia (53 per cent) and Sicily (40 per cent). Germany remains the leading international market, absorbing 32 per cent of total export volumes – up from 24 per cent in 2010. France and Poland complete the top export destinations, with Germany and France jointly accounting for 50 per cent of foreign sales. Meanwhile, shipments to the UK continued their upward trajectory, securing a 5 per cent share of total exports.
On the domestic market, shifting consumer preferences are redefining retail dynamics. Sales of pre-packaged table grapes climbed 5.2 per cent in volume and 3.8 per cent in value in 2025.
Packaged grapes now represent 55 per cent of domestic volume and 61 per cent of overall retail value – reflecting a 10 percentage point marketshare gain over the past five years. This structural shift is largely propelled by the expanded availability and popularity of seedless cultivars, which command higher unit pricing (€3.25/kg average retail) and drive increased off-season consumption.
Families with children under 16 are a pivotal driver behind this category expansion, with Generation Alpha showing a clear preference for healthy, convenient snacks. Packaged grape purchases among this demographic surged 14.4 per cent in 2025 (+34.6 per cent compared to 2023), significantly outperforming broader fresh fruit category trends (+1.9 per cent).
The sector also benefits from Italy’s strong focus on geographical origin and quality designations. Italy holds a world-leading 897 Geographical Indications (GIs), with Puglia generating €711mn in sales of DOP and IGP value wines. Supported by modern variety innovation, strong export logistics, and alignment with family health trends, Italian table grapes are well-positioned for sustained international competitiveness.
