The economic performance of agriculture in Italy

In 2015 the gross value added of the agricultural sector at current prices was 33.1 billion euro, corresponding to 2.3% of the national value added. Compared to 2014 there was an increase of 5.6% in current prices and of 3.8% in volume.

In 2015 the value added of the agricultural sector including the food industry increased by 4.2% at current prices value and 2.3% in volume.

The total labour input units in agriculture increased by 2.2% (+2.8% employees and +1.9% self-employed). Positive results were also recorded for the food industry, where the increase of labour input was +0.7%.

In 2015 the increase of the production was quite sharp for woody crops (+12.3%in volume), and more moderate for livestock farms (+0.8%) and for the support activities (+0.5%).

By contrast, a decline was recorded for forage production (-4.3% in volume), herbaceous crops
(-2.8%) and secondary agricultural activities (-0.6%).

The production in agriculture increased in all areas of Italy, except in the North-west (-1.1%). The most significant results were recorded in the South (+5.9%) and in the Centre (+3.5%).

Overall, in EU 28 countries the indicator of agricultural income decreased in 2015 (-3.2%) compared with the previous year: in particular declines were recorded in Germany (-37.6%), Denmark (-19.7%), the UK (-19.3%), Romania (-17.8%), Poland (-8.9%) and the Netherlands (0.8%). A growth was recorded in Greece (+11.7%), France (+8.7%), Italy (+6.2%) and Spain (+3.3%).

For information
Domenico Ciaccia
ph. +39 06 4673.3138
ciaccia@istat.it

Roberto Moro
ph. +39 06 4673.3214
romoro@istat.it