A double blow hits Made in Italy’s wine sector. April saw a sharp 7.5% drop in U.S. exports, compounding a broader 9% slump across non-EU markets in the year’s first four months. The downturn prompts a stark warning from UIV President Frescobaldi to address “growing market imbalances.”
Italian wine exports to the United States fell sharply in April, down 7.5% in volume and 9.2% in value, totaling just under €154 million. Average prices slipped by 2%, according to the latest figures from the Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) Observatory, which analyzed export data for the first month impacted by new tariffs introduced by the Trump administration — initially set at 20% between April 2 and 8, and then lowered to 10%.
The April downturn significantly affected the cumulative performance for the January–April period, flattening volume growth to just +0.9% and halving value growth to +6.7% (€666 million) — a notable decline from the +12.5% recorded just a month earlier. According to UIV, this contraction was anticipated following a pre-tariff stockpiling surge in the second half of 2024. The broader picture for non-EU markets is even more concerning: exports fell 9% in volume and 2.4% in value over the same four-month period.
“For some time now,” said UIV President Lamberto Frescobaldi, “we’ve been urging the industry to focus on real consumption trends, rather than just shipping data, which are only now reflecting the distortions caused by stockpiling. UIV believes urgent action is needed to address growing market imbalances — a topic that will take center stage at our upcoming National Assembly on July 3, especially as we approach the next harvest.”
Without the support of the U.S. market, non-EU export volumes would have dropped by 15% in the first four months of 2025, with value down 10%. Asia posted double-digit declines — notably in Japan and China — while South Korea was a rare bright spot. Exports to Russia plummeted by 65%. The UK, the world’s third-largest importer of Italian wine, also posted declines: -5% in volume and -6% in value. Meanwhile, Switzerland and Canada, the fourth and fifth largest non-EU buyers, remained stable — with Canada even recording an 8% uptick in volume.