2023-04-20 20:45:10
With the rise in the price of bottles and the drop in purchasing power, the world consumption of wine and champagne fell in 2022, the International Wine Organization (OIV) said on Thursday. Wine exports, however, broke a new value record in 2022 (+9%), despite logistical difficulties, which reduced volumes shipped by 5% (to 107 million hectolitres). Under the effect of a 15% increase in the average price of exported bottles, shipments reached 37.6 billion euros, “the highest figure ever recorded”, according to the organization’s annual report.
Consumption changes
After an upturn in 2021, linked to the gradual lifting of health restrictions against Covid-19, “the war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis, as well as disruptions in global supply chains, have led to a spike in production costs and distribution,” said the OIV. The costs of gas or glass have soared for producers, the price of bottles too, which has resulted in a drop in the volumes consumed. They fell to 232 million hectoliters, down 1% compared to 2021.
World inflation remains at very high levels, and “wine prices will not fall” in the coming months, warned the director general of the OIV, Pau Roca, during a press conference. “Consumption has changed significantly: red wines are losing market share, while other categories such as sparkling or rosé are on the rise,” he said. Top-of-the-range wines, prized by a well-to-do clientele, are resisting the difficulties.
“The United States, the biggest consumer in the world”
In general, wine consumption has been decreasing “at a steady pace” since 2018, driven down in particular by a constant decrease in Chinese consumption (-16% in 2022). “The United States continues to be the largest consumer in the world”, and also the largest importer, according to Pau Roca. World wine production, estimated at 258 million hectoliters in 2022, is better than expected, with a drop of only 1%.
“A series of adverse weather events – spring frost, hail, excessive heat and drought – were observed throughout 2022”, underlines the OIV. However, “the absence of serious grape diseases and the arrival of rains at the end of the summer compensated” for the vagaries of the weather. Italy, France and Spain again this year produce more than half of the wine sold in the world.
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