Italian wine exports continue their recovery, though at a slower rate than in the previous survey, and remain in negative territory compared to 2025.
According to ISTAT data published today and analyzed by WineNews, Italian wine exports from January to April 2026 reached €2.33 billion in value, down -6.8% compared to the same period in 2025, with volumes at 640.7 million liters (-3.7%).
The first four months of 2026 show an improvement over the quarter ended in March, when total value stood at -8.2% and volume at -4%. And while the overall situation remains difficult — as shown by rising cellar inventories, up to 46.5 million hectoliters (+6.7%) on 2025 — the signs of recovery shouldn't be underestimated. In January 2026 alone, the export "bulletin" was deep in the red, down -18.7% in value.
The United States Still Leads, But Remains Deeply Negative
The United States — the world's leading wine market — remains Italy's top export destination, importing €564.2 million worth of Italian wine. That figure is still significantly negative at -15.4% compared to 2025, though it has recovered somewhat from the -20.5% decline recorded in March. Volumes tell a similar story: 111.7 million liters were shipped, improving from -8.4% in the first quarter to -5.5% by April.
Europe: A Mixed Picture
Germany, Europe's leading destination for Italian wine, recorded €351 million in exports, down -6.8% — a slight worsening compared to March.
The United Kingdom climbed to €213.3 million (-6.1%).
Canada held steady at €125.5 million for the first four months of 2026, essentially flat year-on-year.
Switzerland continued to slide, down -12.7% to €114.5 million.
On a brighter note, France posted a small but genuine gain, reaching €100.5 million (+0.9%) — a rare positive figure among Italy's major markets. The Netherlands significantly improved on its quarterly trend, with exports totaling €77.1 million (-4.2%).
Italian wine exports to Belgium totaled €65.6 million (-9.8%).
Sweden posted strong figures in April, better than March, narrowing its gap to 2025 to just under -1.5%, reaching €62.3 million. With this result, Sweden has edged ahead of Russia in value terms — Russia imported just over €59 million, a figure up +28% year-on-year, though growth there is slowing compared to the pace seen over the full quarter.
Asia and Emerging Markets
Japan improved in April, closing in on 2025 levels with €53.9 million (-1.1%).
China, meanwhile, posted one of the standout results of the report: exports in the first four months of 2026 reached €26.4 million, up +9.7%.
Among emerging markets, Brazil continued its strong run, reaching €13.4 million (+17.7%), while Australia declined, down -13.2% to €18.2 million.
Outlook
2026 remains a challenging year for Italian wine, with plenty of uncertainty still ahead. That said, the recovery that began in February has held steady and continued — albeit with some slowdown — through April 2026. At the very least, these signs offer reason for hope that the recovery could accelerate further in the months ahead.
Source: ISTAT data, analyzed by WineNews.