Made in Italy has set a new record in the dairy sector: for the first time, Italy has risen to the top among European countries for cheese exports to non-EU markets, surpassing Germany. In the first half of 2025, over 97,000 tons were exported, with a +5% increase in volumes and a value approaching one billion euros.

While Italy’s leadership in terms of value was already consolidated, this result now establishes a record also in terms of volumes. This achievement is not just an economic milestone: it is proof of the competitiveness and resilience of the Italian agri-food system, and above all of the strength and cohesion of the country’s dairy supply chain, formed by companies capable of combining tradition with innovation and competing on a global scale.

Exports are driven primarily by DOP and IGP cheeses, as well as regional dairy specialties, symbols of authenticity, traceability, and food safety. These are elements increasingly associated by international consumers with the Made in Italy label, making them key strategic assets for positioning in foreign markets.

The data highlight positive trends in certain strategic non-European markets such as the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, where demand continues to grow. The situation is more complex in the United States, hindered by tariffs and trade uncertainties, as well as in China and Japan, where sales have declined.

Remaining at the top requires attention on several fronts:

- The variability of tariffs and volatility of trade agreements, which can affect entire production segments, are risk factors that Italian companies must be able to manage.

- The unfair competition of “Italian sounding” products, which undermines the real value of our products and continues to erode market share, is a challenge that must be addressed through investment in certifications and targeted valorization strategies.

- The optimization of logistics and proper management of the cold chain, essential to ensuring high quality standards and food safety, especially for fresh products bound for distant markets.

To tackle these challenges related to extra-EU exports, many companies are adopting targeted strategies. Among them, Caseificio Ignalat, a historic Apulian dairy producer of artisanal cheeses, has taken a proactive approach, investing in the following areas to strengthen its international presence:

- Geographic diversification and expansion of the export network, targeting high-potential areas such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, in order to reduce dependence on already consolidated single markets.

- Collaborations with reliable local partners to secure a presence in selected premium channels in retail, HoReCa, and food service, ensuring proper and effective distribution of Ignalat products and positioning the company as a reference supplier for high-end dining and gourmet boutiques abroad.

- Packaging adaptations and certification updates, in response to foreign markets demanding increasingly specific standards.

- Participation in international trade fairs such as SIAL, Tuttofood, and Anuga, to strengthen our commercial network, build new partnerships, and increase the company’s visibility on the international stage.

“Our goal is not only to grow in terms of volumes and markets served - states Vincenzo Ignazzi, Export Manager of Caseificio Ignalat - but to enhance the perceived value of our brand and our supply chain through the artisanal identity of our cheeses”.

The leadership of Made in Italy shows that today the challenge is not only to sell more, but to sell better, with a strategic, structured, and excellence-driven approach.

For us at Caseificio Ignalat, as for many other Italian companies, the path is clear: to continue investing in innovation, storytelling about the local heritage, and quality, in order to stand out at increasingly higher levels.