Durum wheat prices in Italy are catastrophically low

The Italian agro-industrial portal Coldiretti reported on the catastrophic fall in prices for durum wheat in Italy in the 2025 season: “In August, speculation about wheat began: Italian farmers are paid almost twenty euros less per ton than last year, despite a below-average harvest. ISMEA (the Foggia stock exchange) confirmed the forecasts made by Coldiretti and CAI (Italian Agricultural Consortiums) at the beginning of the threshing season, according to which the durum wheat harvest in Italy is expected to be around 3.7 million tons. This is significantly lower than the optimistic estimates circulated by industrialists and relevant organizations.

The province of Foggia, which ranks first in the country in terms of grain area and provides about 20% of durum wheat production in Italy, is among the regions where the most disappointing results are observed. The drought has reduced production by at least 20% compared to normal potential.

Despite the lower-than-expected results, prices paid to farmers remain low: durum wheat prices in July fell 6% compared to the same period last year and 15% compared to February 2025, according to an analysis of ISMEA data from the Foggia Stock Exchange, a benchmark for grain prices.

In addition, uncontrolled durum wheat imports are making themselves felt again in Italy: according to a Coldiretti analysis based on Istat data, shipments increased by 28% in the first four months of 2025, causing domestic wheat prices to collapse. Canadian durum wheat shipments to Italy actually doubled in the same period compared to the previous marketing year.

Italian producers are particularly upset by the fact that wheat has been imported from abroad treated with substances banned in Europe. “An example is Canada, where wheat is treated with glyphosate before harvest, which is prohibited in Italy. In general, the flow of imported durum wheat into Italy is a real invasion, confirming a general trend: in recent years, several countries, from Canada to Turkey and Russia, have taken turns flooding the Italian market with wheat. Supplies increase precisely as the national harvest season approaches, contributing to the collapse of prices,” Coldiretti noted.

Tags: prices, Italy