(ANSA) - Rome, August 14 - Italian food exports have enjoyed a sharp rise since the start of Milan Expo in May, experts said this week, as officials celebrated the World Fair's success at attracting visitors.
    Visitor numbers at Milan's Expo 2015 have beaten expectations so far in August and reached their highest levels since the world fair opened, leading to busy pavilions and some queues, Expo commissioner Giuseppe Sala said. "The site is packed and we have reached the highest levels since the opening," Sala told RTL 102.5 radio. "Without a doubt we have gone beyond our own forecasts for visitor numbers, which are based on bookings and tour operators," he said. "These suggested that a lot of people were going to come, but we didn't think there would be this many," he said. The world fair, which focuses on good nutrition, fighting hunger and sustainable development under the the theme Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life, is expected to attract around 20 million visitors during its six-month run, many from abroad.
    It pulled in over six million in May and June and Sala has said he expects the final two months to be the busiest.
    Agricultural organization Coldiretti said that exports of Italian agrifood products to the United States and China jumped in June with the help of Milan Expo 2015. Coldiretti analyzed export data from national statistics agency Istat and concluded that agribusiness exports to other European Union countries from Italy in June also rose by 9.7%.
    Gains shown by the May data ranged from a gain of 29.3% in sales to the US and a jump of 57% in sales to China, and by 5% for exports within the EU, which Coldiretti said has been a "stagnant" market. "Global exports of Made in Italy food showed a record increase during the first two months of Expo (May and June)," said Coldiretti.
    In addition to Expo exports have also benefited from a weaker euro and overall economic recovery in the region, said the organization. The gains are made even more significant because exports to Russia have dropped off due to sanctions against Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. Exports of Italian wine, fruit, vegetables, pasta and olive oil have done well, both within the EU and beyond, said Coldretti. It said the tourism has also been boosted by Expo. One of the big attractions at Expo is called Fab Food - The factory of Italian taste.
    The exhibition, organised by industry group Confindustria, guides visitors through the different stages of the food chain using games and activities.
    It has attracted more than 150,000 people so far.
    It aims to explain the concepts of food safety and food security to visitors and gives them a chance to experience first-hand what it means to work daily to improve the planet's nutrition.