Wine Exports at a High Level
According to the Deutsches Weininstitut (DWI, or German Wine Institute) in Mainz, net exports of German wines in the period from July 2007 through June 2008 amounted to some two million hectoliters valued at 398 million euros. This is equal to a two percent increase in value despite a slight decline in volume of one percent compared with the same period a year ago.
DWI managing director Monika Reule announced the figures at the DWI Export Forum in Oppenheim/Rheinhessen today. Satisfied with these results, Reule added: "Turnover of all German wine exports has increased some 43 percent since 2000." Given the limited size of Germany?s vineyard area, the DWI is more interested in the value rather than the volume of its wine exports.
Export developments in the USA during the first half of this year have been particularly positive, doubtlessly fueled by the extraordinary popularity of German Rieslings. At this time, the USA has supplanted Great Britain as the most important export market for Germany’s wines. Fully one quarter of total export revenues derive from exports to the USA – currently worth 99 million euros. Revenues as well as volume of exports to the USA have more than doubled since 2000.
However, export growth has slowed down in recent months. Export revenues declined some two percent and volume some four percent during the twelve months preceding June 2008, partially due to the strong euro. Nevertheless, Reule seemed please to note that a current poll shows that increasing numbers of young Americans are drinking German Rieslings. “As such, we remain optimistic that our wines will also be successful in the American market in the future.”
The British market – for many years the most important export market for German wine – is also changing. Although volume has decreased from 934,000 hectoliters to 525,000 hectoliters since 2000, the value of exports has declined only slightly: from 88 to 83 million euros. Volume losses in recent years have been primarily in the low-end price segment. In general, sales losses in Great Britain could be offset by growth in other markets and with wines of higher value.
