Intesa Sanpaolo launches €10bn plan for agri-food supply chain growth
7 June 2025
Intesa Sanpaolo is allocating €10 billion of new financing for agri-food supply chains - as part of the €410 billion planned by the Group to support PNRR-related initiatives - with the aim of fostering business investment in:
- opportunities in the international context by addressing new markets, uncertainty factors and the effects of tariffs in foreign markets;
- organic growth or growth through M&As in Italy or abroad;
- plant, equipment and innovation to respond to new scenarios driven by climate change, different consumption habits and digitisation;
- enhancing product quality, ensuring operational resilience, and improving consumer satisfaction
Of the total €10 billion, €1.5 billion is earmarked specifically for the wine sector.
"Our new €10 billion commitment aims to support the Italian economy through the agri-food supply chains, which which embody the distinctiveness and excellence of authentic Made in Italy products. Today, new strategies need to be developed and investments accelerated in order to consolidate competitive positioning. Our aim is to provide tangible solutions in a complex context marked by climate change, new consumption habits and innovation"
Massimiliano Cattozzi, Head of the Agribusiness Department of Intesa Sanpaolo's Banca dei Territori
The Italian agri-food sector employs 1,430,000 people, 5.4% of the national total. Exports reached €67.5 billion in 2024, an unprecedented result and an increase of 8.3% compared to 2023.
The new €10 billion intervention was announced on the occasion of the launch of Agri-Talk, a cycle of local meetings organised by Intesa Sanpaolo to initiate a direct dialogue with companies and supply chains in the presence of industry experts and company testimonials.
With 250 operating points, including 95 specialised branches, and around 1,100 specialists, the Agribusiness Division — part of Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori — supports over 80,000 clients with tailored services in globalisation, sustainability, digital innovation, and generational transition.
Edited by Stefania Trenti, Head of Industry and Local Economies Intesa Sanpaolo
- In 2024, Italy regained first place worldwide in wine production: with 44 million hectolitres produced, it made up for the drop in production seen in 2023, caused by extreme weather events that fuelled the spread of downy mildew. The 2024 vintage showed a good recovery, registering +15%, although still 6% below the average of the previous five years. In terms of exports, Italy ranks second in the world with a market share of 22% in value; at the top is France with a market share of 34.5%; in quantity, on the other hand, Italy accounts for 21.7% and is only slightly exceeded by Spain's 22%.
- 2024 closed with €8.1 billion of Italian wine exports, i.e. +5.5% compared to 2023 For wine, the top destination market is the United States, with over €1.9 billion in 2024 (+10.2% compared to 2023). This was followed by Germany (almost €1.2 billion, +3.7%) and the UK (€851 million, +1%). For the agri-food sector as a whole, exports in 2024 grew by 8.3% at constant prices to €67.5 billion.
- But it is above all in terms of biodiversity that Italy holds its record: indeed, according to a study by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), 75% of the national grape variety is covered by no less than 80 native varieties; Portugal follows with 40 varieties, while France and Spain stop at 15. This biodiversity makes for another advantage for Italy, which is the European country with the highest number of PDO/PGI certifications: as many as 528, while France falls short at 442.
- The impact of US duties may be significant: the wine industry is among those most exposed to the US market, with around a quarter of all exports heading across the ocean. However, according to an internal survey conducted by Intesa Sanpaolo on the specialists who support branches in globalisation processes, the reactions that companies are considering include half of respondents indicating a search for new customers in new markets, and a third suggesting the possibility of opening sales or production branches in the US. There is also a certain degree of “wait-and-see”, postponing the timing of investments, and around 20% also point to the possibility of revising listings for the US market.
- On the other hand, a quarter of the respondents see an acceleration of deliveries and sales in the US in anticipation of the entry into force of the duties. In Q1 2025, Italian wine exports to the US grew by 12.5% year-on-year in value, outperforming both France, +11.4%, and Spain, +3.2%. In quantity, the increase was 3.8%, against +4.8% in Spain, while France recorded a decrease: -3.2%.
- Points deserving of particular note include the fragmentation of the wine sector: Italian producers are smaller than their international competitors; 35% of Italian wineries have less than 5 hectares, while in France it is only 7%, making it more difficult to create a system. An issue of generational changeover also emerges: around 10% of Italian wineries have a board made up exclusively of over-65s, while only 5% are led entirely by under-40s. The results of companies managed by young people are better in terms of both turnover growth and profitability.
- Other points to take into account are competition from major international competitors, declining consumption leading to the need to intercept or stimulate new consumer segments, and climate change, which is changing the geography of wine-producing countries by shifting more and more northwards while southern territories are increasingly at risk of desertification.
- Also according to the results of a survey conducted by the branches specialised in Agribusiness, the wine supply chain is among the most impacted by weather-related risks. Investing in innovation can be strategic, focusing on selecting more resistant vines and exploiting the opportunities offered by digitisation and robotics.
- Great opportunities may still come from foreign markets, where Italian wine is already highly appreciated but still shows potential, for example in China where French products dominate today. Wine tourism is growing, also thanks to the ability to stimulate new consumption opportunities through the link with the territory.
