Economic problems in the buffalo milk filière

According to ISMEA, continuing the trend of previous years, in 2000 domestic consumption of buffalo products rose further, although the same year saw a contraction across the board in the consumption of other DOP cheeses, as occurred across the whole cheese sector. By contrast, demand for DOP cheeses in 2001 showed no variations in volume, although it increased in value by 5.5%. In particular, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana experienced increases, for 2001, both in quantity (5.9%) and in value (12.4%) (Fabbro, 2003; Osservatorio Consumi, 2003). These consumption trends in buffalo products occurred within a price framework which is on average 50% higher than that of mozzarella made from cow’s milk. Consumption is chiefly located in Southern Italy. However, there seems to be a clear trend towards greater distribution in other parts of Italy. In other words, despite being more concentrated in the areas where the raw material is produced, buffalo mozzarella consumption is spreading throughout Italy and abroad to the same extent as other, longer-established products. In the geographical areas far removed from the production area, percentage variations in the quantities consumed are three times higher in north-western and central Italy than in the south. Finally, it is precisely this