The production of PDO and PGI cheeses made in Italy in 2024 exceeded 600 thousand tons. This is the balance drawn up by Afidop , the Association of Italian PDO and PGI cheeses , during the annual assembly.
With the exception of Mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO, which remained stable, the ones that had the greatest impact on the increase were Grana Padano with +3.5%, Parmigiano Reggiano (+1.4%), Gorgonzola (+1.9%) and Pecorino Romano (+7.1%) .
Excellent percentages were also achieved by cheeses with smaller production, such as Provolone Valpadana with +5.6%, Valtellina Casera (+8.9%) and Pecorino Toscano (+3.9%).
Crossing production and territories, the PDOs have their most significant percentage weights in Emilia-Romagna (90%), Campania (around 60%), Sardinia (54%), Lombardy and Piedmont (both above 40%), Veneto (46%), Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige, Tuscany and Lazio (for these four regions in a variable measure between 12% and 20%).
As for exports, non-EU countries show a greater propensity for PDOs, absorbing 48% of the total produced. This is due to the trade agreements between Geographical Indications with 34 countries, Afidop points out, but also to the great appeal enjoyed by hard cheeses, made from cow's and/or sheep's milk.
The percentages are driven by Canada and the United States: in both, the volume share exceeds 80%, the value share is 85%. For the other countries, the percentage is 40-43% in volume; from Switzerland (41%), to the UK (40%), from Japan (36%), to Norway (36%) and South Korea (34%). Lower levels in the United Arab Emirates (30%), Saudi Arabia (21%) and China (+7%).
(Unioneonline/lf)
