Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares market in Italy

Earlier Report Observations

The Italian market for bread, pastry, and bakers' wares saw growth in 2020, with market size rising to $12.7 billion from $11.8 billion the previous year. This increase was primarily driven by temporary government support measures for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant shift towards home baking during lockdowns, which boosted domestic consumption of bakery products.

By 2022, the market size contracted to $10.4 billion, accompanied by a decline in production. This period was marked by regulatory developments, including a proposed law (DDL 413) introducing new rules for labeling and transparency in the baking sector, and the entry into force of EU Regulation 2018/848 on organic product labeling. Concurrently, consumer demand increasingly favored sustainable, biodegradable packaging and plant-based options within the bakery segment.

In the subsequent years, the pastry and cakes segment demonstrated strong performance, with sector revenue growing to €9.3 billion in 2023 and exceeding €10 billion in 2024. This growth was supported by evolving consumer preferences for convenient, artisanal, and health-conscious bakery items, alongside wider adoption of eco-friendly packaging practices and digitalization in the sector.

Production bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares in Italy

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, Italy's production of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares reached a value of 14 522 million US dollars, marking a 7.0% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 6.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Italy ranked as the third-largest producer of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares, 2017-2020

World map of production of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares, 2017-2020

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Production hit a low of 265 thousand tonnes in 2018 and peaked at 4 666 thousand tonnes in 2020, representing an 18-fold variation. In 2020, output surged by 25.5% year-over-year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 92.9%, while the most substantial increase was recorded in 2019, at 1 304.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares from Italy

Exports in kind, K t

Italy's exports of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 648.3 thousand tonnes, showing a slight improvement of 2.0% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 19.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 6.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Italy traded bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares with numerous countries. Even the largest destinations—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—collectively accounted for only 38.7% of total exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Italy's export value of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares rose for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 2 771 million US dollars, reflecting a small increase of 2.4% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 23.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

An analysis of export values from 2017 to 2020 reveals a broad distribution across many markets. France (16.1% of export value), Germany (13.9%), and the United States (8.6%) together represented only 38.6% of total flows, while the remaining 61.4% was attributed to other trading partners.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020

Imports bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and bakers’ wares to Italy

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Italy imported 319.0 thousand tonnes of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares, corresponding to a decline of 5.8% compared to the previous year. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 338.7 thousand tonnes, with the largest increase of 3.8% also occurring that year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 4.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (33.2% of import volume), France (15.1%), and Austria (14.1%) were the main sources of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares for Italy, jointly accounting for 62.5% of total imports in volume terms.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Italy's import value of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 931 million US dollars, representing a modest contraction of 3.2% versus the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 993 million US dollars, with the largest increase of 4.8% that year and the largest decline of 3.2% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Germany (28.8% of import value), France (17.4%), and Austria (14.7%) served as the primary suppliers of bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits, and bakers' wares to Italy, collectively representing 61.0% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020