Greek food exports to Italy have surged as Greek yogurt conquered nearly a quarter of the Italian market, according to Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.
The Milan-based publication reported that Greek agri-food exports rose 7.8 percent last year, with Italy maintaining its role as Greece's primary foreign market by absorbing 20 percent of its total agricultural production.
Rising Demand for Greek Yogurt and Feta
Yogurt imports into Italy from Greece increased 11 percent last year compared to 2024, accounting for 42.5 percent of all yogurt imported into the country. Within less than a decade, Greek strained yogurt has expanded its share to nearly 25 percent of the overall Italian market and is now purchased by 58 percent of Italian households.
Italian consumers have also increased their purchases of feta cheese, doubling their buying volume over the past five years. Il Sole 24 Ore noted that feta recorded the highest growth rate in the entire cheese category in Italy, where shoppers use it across a wide range of culinary recipes rather than strictly for breakfast.
Feta is a traditional Greek curd cheese made from sheep and goat milk that holds protected designation of origin status within the European Union. Greek strained yogurt has similarly gained international popularity for its thick texture and high protein content.
Growth Across Broader Food and Export Sectors
The international success of yogurt and feta has propelled sales across Greece's entire food export sector over the last decade. Total Greek gastronomic exports expanded from 3.3 billion euros to 11.5 billion euros over the past ten years, now representing 18.6 percent of Greece's total export activity.
Italian buyers and food service operators are purchasing a wider variety of Greek agricultural products, including olives, olive oil, kiwis, moussaka, and gyros. Exports of beverages and seafood are also rising, with increased shipments of wine, beer, ouzo, and farmed fish.
To support this expansion, the Greek government allocated 131 million euros in funding to build and upgrade new aquaculture units. Aquaculture involves the commercial cultivation of fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in controlled aquatic environments.
Economic Performance Ahead of European Averages
The export boom aligns with broader economic growth in Greece, where national output is expanding faster than the European Union average. Economic forecasts project Greece's economy to grow by 2.2 percent in 2026, a rate four times higher than the projected growth rate for Italy.
Il Sole 24 Ore is Italy's leading daily financial newspaper, published by the Italian employers' federation Confindustria and focused on business, economics, and commercial trade.
