To understand from Indian perspective, this is about 40 times more than the total wine consumed in India but slightly over 11% that of the total alcoholic consumption last year.
In 2007, the export was $951 million and had registered 8.6% growth compared to the previous year. It has almost doubled since 1998 when the exports were worth $ 537 million.
Robert ‘Bobby’ Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute remarked that the exports have increased steadily over the last 15 years, increasing more than five-fold from $196 million in 1994.
California’s share was about 90% last year, compared to the 95% during the previous year, according to people in the Wine Institute. US is the world’s fourth leading wine producer, despite holding only six percent of the global export market, according to the Institute, which represents more than 1000 California wineries about 125 of which take part in its international programme.
Almost half of U.S. wine exports were shipped last year to the European Union, accounting for $486 million in sales according to the institute’s report. The next leading markets were Canada, $260 million, with Japan an important market at $61 million.
Koch feels that the protectionist tariffs, distribution restrictions and production subsidies still create "an unlevel playing field" in some markets, but adds that the 2006 signing of a Wine Trade Agreement between the U.S. and the European Union has helped to create "a more stable trading environment" for California vintners.
Bulk wines, rather than bottled wines, have been growing faster in Europe, as more producers ship bulk product abroad for bottling, which allows the brand owners to price wines more efficiently in a very competitive export market. |