Italy is the main producer of rice in Europe, with a +4% increase in exports in 2019 for a value of almost 550 million euros. This is what Italian farmers association Coldiretti says when commenting positively on the signing of two agreements that open the Chinese market to the exports of Italian beef and rice.

The Italian Ambassador in Beijing, Luca Ferrari, has signed the agreement with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China that will allow the export of Italian rice to China, in particular the most suitable qualities for typical 'risotto'.

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"The signing of the agreement in this moment takes on great value - the ambassador said - both because it comes despite the dramatic period we are experiencing and because it opens up a commercial opportunity for Italy to export its typical varieties to the most populous country in the world. This is the metaphor of two countries that in this difficult moment choose the path of cooperation, looking ahead."

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Now it will be necessary to overcome the technical obstacles to Italian food exports to balance trade relations with imports from China, equal to 667 million in 2019 (Italian exports to the Asian giant amount to 477 million).

Export sales in volume671,000 tonnes (+5%)Export sales in value510 million euro (+2.6%)Top-performing countriesFrance, Germany and the UKItalian rice: export share by areasEU 88% | Non-EU 12%2018 - Source: Ente risi

Italian rice is grown on an area of 220,000 hectares. About 4,000 Italian farms harvest 1.40 million tons of product per year, equal to about 50% of the entire EU production. With a unique variety range and among the best in the world.

With over 200 varieties of rice, each with its own peculiarities, Italy ensures over 50% of European production. Italian rice differs from that grown in the rest of