In the first nine months of the year, Mortadella Bologna PGI consolidated its growth trajectory, confirming the resilience of one of the most iconic cured meats in the Italian agri-food sector. According to data released by the Consortium, between January and September, production increased by 3,8%, sales by 4,0%, and exports by 10,1% compared to the same period in 2024.
Total production reached 30,45 million kg (compared to 29,3 million in 2024), while sales rose to over 25 million kg, supported by the recognition of the PGI and the growing demand for certified products. The tray format continues to play a strategic role, up 3,5%, confirming its role as a key lever for attracting new consumers and facilitating out-of-home consumption.
However, it is the international front that is driving the sector. Exports are growing by 10,1%, with peaks in Belgium (+77,2%), Switzerland (+32,3%), and Spain (+17,6%), markets where the Consortium is active with promotional campaigns co-financed by the European Union. Among non-EU countries, Canada's boom is particularly notable: from 3.500 kg in 2024 to 25.000 kg in 2025 (+601,8%), thanks to the reopening of the market after the closure due to African swine fever.
Poland (+62,8%), Croatia (+45,6%), and the Czech Republic (+15,3%) also performed well, firmly entering the top ten EU markets by export volumes. "Amid declining sales, the growth of Mortadella Bologna PGI—with exports now accounting for 24% of sales—testifies to the strength of the product and our strategies in both mature and emerging markets," commented Guido Veroni, President of the Italian Consortium for the Protection of Mortadella Bologna. In the domestic market, large-scale retail remains the leading channel with a 54,9% share, followed by retail (27%) and discount retailers (18%).
The Consortium, founded in 2001 following the 1998 PGI recognition, continues to oversee quality, protect the denomination, and fight counterfeiting, with the aim of guaranteeing a product with unique organoleptic characteristics consistent with contemporary nutritional trends.
