Italian agricultural markets see rising grain prices and declining imports

Agricultural commodity markets in Italy are experiencing mixed trends across prices and trade volumes. According to the Bologna Commodity Exchange, weekly quotations for several animal feed commodities have risen, including national maize (+13.00 euro/ton), non-EU maize (+10.00 euro/ton), and various types of barley and soybean meal.

Geopolitical factors and logistics volatility continue to influence market uncertainty. While soft wheat and maize prices show upward trends, durum wheat prices remain largely stable, though a slight increase was noted in the Altamura market. In the broader European context, demand is increasingly shifting toward overseas origins due to high local mill coverage.

Trade data from ISTAT for the first five months of 2026 indicates a decline in Italian imports for cereals, oilseeds, and protein meals. Import volumes fell by 59,200 tonnes (-0.5%) and total value dropped by 7.9% to 299.4 million euros. This decrease is driven primarily by lower imports of maize and durum wheat, despite a slight increase in soft wheat quantities and oilseed volumes.