Overseas
The latest EUMOFA case study offers a clear snapshot of the Italian mussel market, a sector that still holds a leading role in Europe but shows contrasting signals.
Declining production
Italy is currently the second-largest European producer of mussels, accounting for 17% of total EU output, behind Spain, which leads with 45%. Over the long term, however, Italian mussel farming has been losing momentum: between 2014 and 2023, volumes fell by 10%. This decline is less severe than Spain’s, yet still significant for a sector that has always been a pillar of Italy’s maritime tradition.
Rising imports
On the supply side, Italy ranks as the third European market by value for mussel imports from non-EU countries, with 13% of the EU total. Between 2020 and 2024, imports rose by 8% in value, reflecting the growing dependence on extra-European flows, particularly driven by supplies from Chile.
Competitive exports
While domestic production retreats, Italy is strengthening its export position. With 11% of the value of extra-EU exports, the country ranks second in Europe after Spain and ahead of France. Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom remain key markets, continuing to absorb Italian mussels both fresh and processed.
Intra-EU trade: a stable market
Within the EU, Italy stands among the main destinations, accounting for 14% of total intra-community trade value. This figure confirms the vitality of domestic demand, still strongly tied to the consumption of live and fresh mussels, typical of Mediterranean tradition.
A challenge for the future
Italy therefore remains a central player in Europe’s mussel trade flows, even as it faces a decline in domestic production. The sector’s dual challenge lies in supporting national mussel farming through innovation and sustainability while consolidating its strategic position in the import-export dynamics that make the country a key hub in the Mediterranean.
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