Oats market in Italy

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the Italian oats market faced production headwinds as agronomic factors like high water requirements and cold sensitivity limited crop yields and reduced planted area, contributing to a market volume dip in 2019. During this period, however, the first signs of rising consumer interest emerged, with Kölln Italia's structured research project in 2020 highlighting a positive trend in oat sales and Italian consumer engagement.

From 2021 to 2023, consumer demand for oat-based products strengthened, driven by health, sustainability, and taste trends, leading to a proliferation of items such as oat beverages and fortified flakes. This demand growth supported market volume, which reached 281 thousand tons in 2022, even as domestic production fell by 7% between 2022 and 2023. The entry of new oat-based products and expanded household penetration helped offset some of the production decline.

In 2024, oats dominated the Italian food landscape as a beneficial ingredient, with the overall oat-ingredient market growing by 6%. Supply increased by 2.7%, while demand volumes saw a mild contraction of 1.8%. The market's evolution continued to be shaped by new product launches and the integration of oats into multiple consumption occasions, focusing on health and sustainability attributes.

Production oats in Italy

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy ranked as the 23rd largest producer of oats globally.

Top producers of oats, 2017-2020

World map of production of oats, 2017-2020

In 2020, Italy produced 249.0 thousand tonnes of oats, marking a 1.9% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 8.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.8%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 249.7 thousand tonnes. The largest year-on-year decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 2.2%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 9.0%.

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

Exports oats from Italy

Exports in kind, t

The market experienced significant fluctuations during this period. Export volumes from Italy varied considerably, with a 16-fold difference between the low of 523 tonnes in 2018 and the high of 8 107 tonnes in 2019. In 2020, exports totaled 5 167 tonnes, representing a 36.3% decrease compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 89.2%, while the most substantial increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 1 451.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the primary destinations for Italy's oat exports in volume terms were Greece, accounting for 57.8% of exports, Algeria with 12.3%, and Germany at 7.5%. Together, these three countries comprised 77.6% of Italy's total oat exports by volume.

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

In 2020, the value of oat exports from Italy reached 1 980 thousand US dollars, down 21.4% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export values declined by 35.8%, with an average annual decrease of 13.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 657 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 46.2% drop, while the biggest increase was in 2019, at 52.1%.

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

During 2017-2020, the key markets for Italy's oat exports by value were Switzerland and Greece, each accounting for 27.2% of exports, followed by France at 15.1%. Collectively, these three countries represented 69.5% of Italy's total oat 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 oats to Italy

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Italy imported 23 447 tonnes of oats, a 22.5% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import volumes rose by 14.1%, equivalent to an average annual growth rate of 4.5%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 19 145 tonnes, while the highest was in 2018 at 30 414 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 37.1% drop, and the biggest increase was in 2018, at 48.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, France was the leading source of oat imports to Italy by volume, accounting for 42.7% of imports, followed by Germany at 15.6% and Spain at 13.0%. Together, these three countries supplied 71.2% of Italy's oat imports by volume.

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

In 2020, Italy imported oats worth 7 832 thousand US dollars, a 33.0% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values grew by 36.6%, with an average annual rate of 11.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 8 723 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 32.5% drop, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 52.2%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, France was the primary source of oat imports to Italy by value, accounting for 45.3% of imports, followed by Spain at 12.2% and Germany at 10.3%. These three countries together represented 67.8% of Italy's total oat 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