Pasta producers in Italy halt production amid raw material supply disruptions

Major pasta producers in Italy are being forced to suspend or reduce production due to raw material supply disruptions caused by truck drivers’ protests. On Tuesday, October 20, Rummo, which operates in the Campania region, suspended operations due to a shortage of essential ingredients. Protests by truck drivers blocking roads, highways and ports have disrupted food supply chains in southern Italy, according to The Independent.

According to Rummo CEO Cosimo Rummo, almost all major pasta producers in the neighboring region of Puglia are facing similar difficulties. He noted that a significant part of Italy’s pasta industry has already stopped operating or is close to shutting down. The situation is particularly difficult in Puglia, Campania and Sicily, which are key pasta-producing regions in Italy.

Raw material supply problems have also forced La Molisana, a producer based in the Molise region, to significantly reduce production volumes. The company has begun using its existing stocks of wheat and semolina as regular deliveries of fresh raw materials have been disrupted. Representatives of the Italian milling industry association Italmopa warned that if transport blockades continue, more companies could be forced to suspend operations, with the consequences spreading throughout the flour milling and pasta production supply chain.

The scale of the disruption is significant for Italy’s food industry. According to European House-Ambrosetti, Italy’s pasta production and supply chain generated €13.5 bln in revenue in 2025. Meanwhile, transport protests that began last week have already caused shortages of certain products in supermarkets across southern Italy and queues at fuel stations. Due to disruptions in food deliveries, consumers have started purchasing larger quantities of flour and other essential goods.

The Italian government is seeking to resolve the situation and restore transport operations. Following negotiations with representatives of the trucking industry, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Edoardo Rixi announced plans for a financial support package worth more than €150 mln. Meanwhile, the resumption of stable wheat, semolina and other ingredient supplies will be crucial for pasta producers to maintain operations. Prolonged blockades of logistics routes could lead to further factory shutdowns and worsen disruptions to food supplies in Italy’s domestic market.

Tags: logistics, pasta, Italy