Italian wine exports fall 3% to €4.85 billion in the first eight months of 2026
Italian wine exports remained below the previous year’s level from January through August 2026, but stronger August trade narrowed the decline. Istat data analyzed by WineNews show improvements in the United States and other major markets, alongside strong growth in Russia and China.
August growth reduces the year-to-date decline
The value of Italian wine exports reached €4.85 billion between January and August 2026, according to Istat data analyzed by WineNews. The total was 3% lower than in the same period of 2025, but the result marked an improvement from the 5.3% decline reported after seven months and the 6.2% contraction recorded at midyear. Volume data were not yet available.1
Exports in August alone were worth €506.8 million, up 5.1% from August 2025. The monthly increase provided a further sign of recovery, although the year-to-date figures continued to show difficult trading conditions.1
The gap narrows in the United States and major European markets
The United States, by far the largest market for Italian wine, imported €112.1 million in August 2026, 21.1% more than the €92.5 million recorded in August 2025. Exports to the country totaled €1.1 billion over the first eight months, down 8.3% year on year; after seven months, the decline had been 11.2%.1
Germany, the leading European market for Italian wine, accounted for €701.4 million in January–August exports, a decline of 5.5% from the corresponding period of 2025 but an improvement from the position reported through July. The United Kingdom bought €479.1 million, also down 5.5%, compared with a 6.3% decline after seven months.1
Canada declined 6.1% to €265.8 million, while France fell 3% to €203.3 million and the Netherlands decreased 2.3% to €159.2 million. Sweden was broadly stable with a slight increase, reaching €126.5 million.1
Russia and China record strong gains
In Asia, exports to Japan were worth €120.8 million, down 1.2% and therefore close to their 2025 level. China imported more than €51 million of Italian wine, an increase of 21.7%, continuing a positive trend driven mainly by Italian sparkling wines.1
Russia was another expanding market, with exports rising 24.2% to €140.6 million. Overall conditions across Italy’s most important export destinations remained fragile, but the improvement through August—particularly in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom—brought the cumulative results closer to those of 2025 ahead of the final months of the year.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
