Melons market in Italy, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the implementation of EU Regulation No. 1308/2013 mandated healthy and fair quality standards with compulsory origin labeling for fresh fruits and vegetables, standardizing the market. Italy's National Fruit and Vegetable Strategy 2018-2022 also focused on sector development and sustainability. By 2020, climate change increased phytopathologies and production costs, leading to a slight market volume decline to 593.2 thousand tons.

The International Year of Fruits and Vegetables in 2021 raised consumer awareness, supporting demand despite strict EU marketing standards that limited access for produce with aesthetic defects. In 2022, the extension of Italy's experimental origin labeling regime continued to shape the market, but volume fell to 578.4 thousand tons, partly due to persistent climate and cost challenges.

In 2023, the melon market expanded sharply, with production reaching 762.6 thousand tons and market volume 761.5 thousand tons. That year, the European Commission updated agro-food marketing rules to improve sustainability, which may have facilitated market access. Additionally, Italian government policies aiming for record agricultural performance through innovation and distribution diversification were taking shape, as highlighted in 2024.

Production melons in Italy

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy ranked as the world's 10th largest producer of melons.

Top producers of melons, 2017-2020

World map of production of melons, 2017-2020

In 2020, Italy produced 593.4 thousand tonnes of melons, showing little change from the previous year. Production reached its lowest point in 2019 at 591.6 thousand tonnes, while the peak was recorded in 2018 at 608.0 thousand tonnes. The most significant decrease occurred in 2019 with a 2.7% drop, whereas the largest increase was seen in 2018 with a 0.4% rise.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Italy's melon production value grew for the third year in a row in 2020, reaching 621.5 million US dollars, which represents a 3.5% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value rose by 23.9%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 7.4%.

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

Exports melons from Italy

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Italy exported 28 355 tonnes of melons, marking a notable 10.1% increase compared to 2019. However, over the 2017-2020 span, exports declined by 23.8%, with an average annual decrease of 8.6%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 25 746 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 40 762 tonnes. The sharpest drop occurred in 2019 with a 36.8% fall.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria were the primary destinations for Italy's melon exports by volume, accounting for 38.7%, 11.0%, and 10.1% of total exports, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 59.8% of Italy's export flows.

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, K $ US

Italy's melon exports were valued at 29 697 thousand US dollars in 2020, up 13.7% from the previous year. Despite this recent gain, exports decreased by 3.6% over the 2017-2020 period, with an average annual decline of 1.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 26 127 thousand US dollars, and the highest in 2018 at 38 521 thousand US dollars. The most substantial decrease happened in 2019 with a 32.2% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 25.1% rise.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria remained the top destinations for Italy's melon exports by value, representing 35.2%, 16.9%, and 11.5% of total exports, respectively. Collectively, these three markets accounted for 63.5% of Italy's export value.

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

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

Imports melons to Italy

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Italy imported 28 117 tonnes of melons, a sharp 24.7% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 timeframe, imports fell by 14.4%, equivalent to an average annual reduction of 5.1%. The highest import volume was in 2019 at 37 358 tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 14.3%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Brazil, the Netherlands, and France were the key sources for Italy's melon imports by volume, contributing 25.7%, 20.6%, and 17.2% of total imports, respectively. These three countries together represented 63.4% of Italy's import flows.

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, K $ US

Italy's melon imports totaled 27 939 thousand US dollars in 2020, down 23.7% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 23.4%, averaging an 8.5% annual decline. The peak import value was in 2019 at 36 599 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase that year at 2.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France, the Netherlands, and Brazil were the main sources for Italy's melon imports by value, accounting for 25.7%, 20.7%, and 19.7% of total imports, respectively. Combined, these three countries made up 66.0% of Italy's import value.

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

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