The second edition of EVOLIO Expo returns to Bari at a crucial moment for the Italian olive sector: according to the latest ISMEA1 report, in 2024, compared to 2023, olive oil exports exceeded €3.09 billion (+42.6%), with more than 344,000 tons sold abroad (+6.8%), while revenue was €5.8 billion.
This result confirms the strength of the supply chain and Italy’s role as the world’s second largest exporter of olive oil, with a 20% share of global trade.
This achievement is even more significant when one considers that 2024 was a complex year in terms of production due to unfavorable weather conditions and the natural cyclical nature of production, which led to a decline in the harvest. Despite this, the supply chain—comprising over 620,000 farms and more than 4,240 active oil mills—demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt.
2025 also began with signs of vitality on the commercial front: in the first four months of the year, Italian olive oil exports exceeded 129,000 tons in volume (+23% compared to the same period last year), generating a turnover of over €940 million, despite a decline in international prices (-9.3%) due to greater product availability in competing countries.
In addition, Italian extra virgin olive oil stood out for its ability to maintain average prices above €9 per kilo, compared to a global market marked by a general decline in prices, and for its high quality, a factor recognized by operators and international markets.
Encouraging signs are also evident on the domestic market: demand in large-scale distribution is recovering, driven precisely by the EVO segment.
In this context, the second edition of EVOLIO Expo – scheduled from January 29 to 31, 2026, at the Fiera del Levante in Bari – presents itself as a strategic opportunity to exploit opportunities on global markets. Organized by Senaf on behalf of Nuova Fiera del Levante, with the support of the Puglia Region’s Department of Agriculture, Pugliapromozione, and the National Association of Oil City, the event will once again be a meeting point for producers, buyers, institutions, and operators in the supply chain.
The central element of the event is the internationalization program, which will bring highly profiled foreign buyer delegations, importers, distributors, and professionals from the large-scale retail and Ho.Re.Ca. sectors to Bari for a busy schedule of B2B meetings and business matching activities. The aim is to generate new export opportunities, strengthen existing channels, and position Italian extra virgin olive oil as a benchmark for quality, identity, and sustainability on global markets.
Internationalization and support tools: an ecosystem to be strengthened
According to the ISMEA report, there are now public tools and concrete opportunities to support the path towards internationalization: from the PNRR, which has allocated €100 million for the modernization of oil mills, to the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027, which provides €34.6 million per year for sectoral actions, to funds for promotion in third countries, risk management, quality, and combating Xylella.
EVOLIO Expo acts as a link between these opportunities and businesses, facilitating access to knowledge, contacts, buyers, and tools.
Alongside its focus on exports, EVOLIO Expo 2026 will offer a broader program, capable of connecting innovation, territory, and supply chain. During the three days of the event, three strategic macro-themes will be explored in depth, themes that make Italian extra virgin olive oil a unique product in the world: its health benefits, recognized in the medical and nutritional fields; its deep connection with the landscape and identity of the territories; and the potential of olive oil tourism as a driver of development for local economies. This integrated approach makes EVOLIO Expo not just a product fair, but a real platform for content, vision, and connections for the future of Italian EVO oil.
For further information | Press Office MY PR
Roberto Grattagliano – 338 9291793 – roberto.grattagliano@mypr.it
Marta Rutigliano – 351 0397141 – marta.rutigliano@mypr.it