In 2023, Italian exports of fresh fruit and vegetables hit a record high, increasing by 9.1% to 5.780 billion euros, despite a 0.9% decline in volumes, according to Istat data. However, a 13.6% increase in import volumes and a 15.7% increase in import value resulted in a trade deficit of over 500 thousand tonnes. The trade balance dropped by 29.7% to just over 543 million euros. While exports of tubers, vegetables, legumes, and citrus fruits saw good performance, fresh fruit exports suffered due to a production crisis. Dried fruit exports also struggled, but tropical fruit exports saw significant growth.