On the occasion of the 2025 General Assembly of ITALMOPA (Italian Millers’ Industrial Association) – the annual landmark event for the Italian milling industry – we had the pleasure of participating as a sponsor, actively contributing to the discussion on the present and future of the sector.
Among the most significant moments of the event, the speech by Marco Galli, Director of our Technology Department, offered a concrete and up-to-date overview of the main trends currently transforming the global milling market.
In a continuously expanding scenario – with forecasts suggesting a possible doubling of the flour market value by 2034 – today’s investments are led by large international groups. These players focus on high-capacity, efficient plants that are increasingly integrated within their own production chains, aiming to optimize resource management and ensure direct procurement of raw materials.
It is precisely in response to these dynamics that Ocrim offers targeted solutions, such as large-capacity plants – ranging from 600 to 1,200 tons per day and replicable – designed to quickly recover potential production gaps and reduce investment and operating costs.
Our plants are built with long-term durability in mind (with a 30-year vision), flexible in handling various wheat types, and suitable for adapting to the evolution of emerging markets, while also allowing the development of new product categories. All of this is supported by 360-degree assistance services, designed to guide our customers through every stage of the process.
Galli also emphasized the stark contrast between mature markets, where flour is a strategic ingredient for high-value-added products, and emerging markets, where it remains a flexible and adaptable commodity. In both contexts, however, milling plants must meet new technical, logistical, and cultural demands.
Another key point raised by Galli was the growing difficulty in finding qualified personnel. In an increasingly automated sector, technology cannot replace operational awareness: technical and cultural training remains a crucial lever for ensuring production efficiency and continuity.
Finally, a focus on Italy: although our country may not be considered a global benchmark in the milling field, it is recognized for the quality of certain specialty flours – first and foremost, pizza flour. Increasingly in demand internationally, this type of flour is often seen abroad as the quality standard to be reached in order to produce an authentic and high-performing product. We will be able to fully capitalize on this know-how only if we continue to observe the market with clarity and invest in knowledge – the true differentiating lever, now more than ever.
A global perspective, then, confirms just how important it is to understand change and turn it into an opportunity for growth and innovation across the entire milling supply chain.
During the Assembly, Vincenzo Martinelli (Candeal Commercio) was also elected as the new President of ITALMOPA for the 2025–2026 term. Martinelli succeeds Andrea Valente, who completed his four-year term as President and to whom all member companies extend their sincere thanks for his dedication and work.
