Bilateral trade flows of HostMilano products between Italy and Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), are expected to reach 933 million euros by 2026, and are expected to close 2022 (in preliminary estimates based on the first nine months of the year) with a value close to 745 million euros, and with a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of +5.8% (Source: ExportPlanning).

The bulk of this is accounted for by Italian exports to Benelux, which will reach approximately 522 million euros in 2022. The prospects are good: a CAGR growth of +4.4% in values in euros is expected for the period between 2023 and 2026, reaching 620 million euros in 2026, with Professional Foodservice making the largest contribution to this growth (+61.8 million euros). That sector takes the lion’s share: preliminary financial statements suggest values of over 330.5 million euros for 2022 (or roughly 63% of exports).

Sales to the Benelux area accounted for 6.9% of Italian exports in the division. More specifically, trade to Belgium accounted for 3.3% of the total, to the Netherlands 3.5% and to Luxembourg 0.1%. Italy’s market share in the Benelux area in 2022 is estimated at 7.4%, in third place behind China (which captured 43% of that market) and Germany (14.1%).

Refrigerating items (113.4 million euros in 2022, with a forecast of 149.6 million euros for 2026 and a CAGR of +7.2%) are the most extensively sold products in the Professional Foodservice sector. Also worth highlighting, though, are kitchen hobs and electric ovens (64 million euros in 2022, forecast to rise to 75.9 million euros in 2026); cabinets, display cases and chilled food counters (60.9 million euros in 2022 with a forecast of 71.3 million euros in 2026); and saucepans and cooking pans (52.4 million euros in 2022).

Tableware products (104 million euros in preliminary figures for 2022 with 121.9 million euros forecast for 2026; CAGR +4%) account for 6.4% of Italian exports in the sector (2.4% to Belgium, 3.9% to the Netherlands and 0.1% to Luxembourg). Italy has a 2.1% share of the total, and ranks 11th in the table of countries that export to the area.

Coffee-making Equipment and Vending Machines are performing well (73.7 million euros in 2022 and expected to reach 91.2 million euros in 2026; CAGR +5.5%). They account for 4.9% of Italian exports in the sector (Belgium 1.6%, Netherlands 3.2%, Luxembourg 0.1%).

In 2022 Italian sales in the sector were in third place (behind Switzerland and Germany) in the ranking of countries that trade with the Benelux area, with a share of 17.4%. The bulk of sales comes from coffee machines (51.7 million euros generated through exports in 2022, expected to rise to 70 million euros in 2026; CAGR +7.8%).

Final figures for 2022 will see Italian exports of Bread-baking and Pastry-making equipment standing at 13.7 million euros, which is 1.6% of Italian export destinations (with Belgium the top country: 1.1%) but with a share of 14.1%, Italy ranks second in the table of partner countries, behind Germany.

Bread-baking equipment is the most significant segment for Italian exports, with sales of 9.7 million euros in 2022; machinery for making pasta products contribute another 4 million euros.