# Italian pasta industry and market trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-pasta-industry-and-market-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-24T16:31:50.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

The Italian pasta sector is characterized by product innovation and significant global market influence. Recent developments include the introduction of gluten-free options, such as a corn and rice flour blend by Pasta La Marchigiana, and consumer testing by Altroconsumo regarding the quality differences between Italian and foreign wheat.

On a macro level, Italy maintains its position as the global leader in pasta production, consumption, and exports. In 2025, production reached approximately 4.2 million tonnes, accounting for 69 percent of the total European Union production. The industry is increasingly export-driven; 2025 exports totaled over 2.45 million tonnes valued at approximately 3.97 billion euros. Growth remains steady, with export volumes in the first half of 2026 showing a 2.7% increase compared to the previous year.

Despite this dominance, the sector faces growing challenges regarding raw material dependency. While consumer interest in ‘100% Made in Italy’ products is rising, imports of durum wheat increased by 5.1% during the first seven months of 2026. This reliance on foreign grain has sparked concerns over competitive fairness. Specifically, Coldiretti Puglia has highlighted discrepancies in agricultural standards, noting that practices such as the use of glyphosate in pre-harvest are permitted in supplier countries like Canada, even though such substances have been banned in Italy since 2016.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-24: Italy maintains global leadership in pasta production and exports

Italy remains the global leader in pasta, with a 13.5 billion euro supply chain. However, rising foreign grain imports and regulatory discrepancies pose challenges to the domestic industry.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-maintains-global-leadership-in-pasta-production-and-exports

### 2026-10-20: Italy maintains global leadership in pasta production and exports

Italy leads global pasta production and exports, with 4.2 million tonnes produced in 2025. Minister Antonio Tajani also announced a new annual ‘World Italian Pasta Day’ to promote the sector globally.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italy-maintains-global-dominance-in-pasta-production-and-exports

### 2026-10-11: Pasta quality and gluten-free options in Italy

New reports examine pasta quality, featuring Pasta La Marchigiana’s gluten-free corn and rice line and Altroconsumo’s findings that Italian wheat origin does not exclusively determine pasta quality.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pasta-quality-and-gluten-free-options-in-italy

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Cite as: Italian pasta industry and market trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-pasta-industry-and-market-trends