Milan, June 16 - Imports of soft and durum wheat into Italy, a major grain buyer in Europe, fell in the first three months of the year, but maize imports rose, Italian cereals body Anacer said in a statement.
Imports of soft wheat fell to 856,434 tonnes from 1,043,550 tonnes a year earlier, and imports of durum wheat, used for making pasta, fell to 416,503 tonnes from 518,227 tonnes.
Maize imports rose to 614,209 tonnes from 298,198 tonnes for the same period in 2008.
Anacer said exports of rice from Italy, Europe's biggest producer, fell to 177,608 tonnes in the January-March period from 219,288 tonnes a year earlier.
Italy's exports of pasta -- one of its best known food staples -- eased to 375,014 tonnes from 379,182 tonnes.