Italian cheese exports approach 350,000 tonnes in first half of 2026
Italy exported nearly 350,000 tonnes of cheese in the first half of 2026, up 3.4% year on year. EU demand led the expansion, although lower average export values and stronger competition outside the bloc put pressure on producers’ margins.
Exports add more than 11,400 tonnes
Italian cheese exports approached 350,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2026, increasing by 3.4% compared with the same period of 2025, Interris reported. The gain represented more than 11,400 additional tonnes placed on international markets, extending the dairy industry’s overseas growth despite geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, high logistics costs and intensifying international competition.
Export revenue exceeded €3 billion by midyear for the first time, according to Assolatte president Paolo Zanetti. He said the result demonstrated both the strength of Italian dairy companies and continued international demand for Italian cheese. However, the expansion required many companies to accept pressure on their margins as they sought to maintain their presence and defend market share.
Fresh and hard cheeses support growth
Growth was spread across several major product categories. Mozzarella export volumes increased by 3%, while other fresh cheeses recorded a stronger rise of 7.3%. Grated cheese shipments advanced by 2.4%, and combined exports of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano grew by 3.5%. Provolone posted a 5.6% increase.
The figures indicate that the first-half expansion was not dependent on a single variety. Fresh cheeses delivered some of the fastest growth, while Italy’s established hard-cheese designations also added volume. This mix is important for processors and exporters because the categories differ in production cycles, pricing, storage requirements and distribution channels.
European Union markets lead expansion
The European Union was the main engine of growth, with Italian cheese export volumes to member states rising by 4.4%. Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Poland each recorded double-digit increases. Shipments also grew by 2.8% to France, 4.1% to Germany and 4.6% to Spain, while Greece produced what Interris described as significant results.
The stronger performance inside the EU gives Italian suppliers the benefit of demand across several markets rather than a single destination. It also places greater importance on European distribution networks at a time when high logistics costs continue to affect the sector. For producers and traders, the country-level results identify both large established buyers, including Germany and France, and faster-growing destinations such as Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and Poland.
Margins and extra-EU competition remain risks
Volume growth did not translate into an equivalent improvement in unit returns. Zanetti pointed to a reduction in the average value of exported cheese as evidence that companies had worked on their margins to support international sales and protect their existing positions. For processors, higher tonnage combined with a lower average export value increases the importance of controlling production, energy, packaging and freight costs.
Italy has also fallen to second place in cheese exports to markets outside the EU, behind Germany. Assolatte sees that change as a warning that international competition is becoming more intense. The first-half figures therefore present a divided picture: Italian cheese exporters continued to expand volumes and passed €3 billion in revenue, but future gains will depend on their ability to preserve margins and compete more effectively beyond the European Union.
