Italian Wine Industry Faces Structural Crisis: Navigating Challenges in a Changing Global Market

The Italian wine industry is facing a structural crisis due to several critical factors that are undermining the competitiveness of companies and could impact related industries in the long run. During a press conference in Milan, Luca Rigotti, president of the Wine sector of Confcooperative, highlighted the cost of money and the surge in raw material costs as major problems. These challenges, along with inflationary effects and climate change, are creating significant difficulties for the wine industry.

A Censis study presented at the conference revealed that global logistics issues exacerbated by the pandemic have led to delays in raw material supplies and increased prices for products like wooden packaging, cork, and glass bottles. Additionally, export slowdowns and the Suez Canal crisis have affected foreign demand for Italian wines, with only Europe showing positive growth rates in recent years. Despite these challenges, long-term trends suggest a favorable trajectory for wine exports. While there have been recent declines in exports to certain regions, overall exported wine value has increased over time. Companies in the Italian wine sector must adapt to changing market conditions to maintain their competitiveness globally.