Global consumption of wine on the increase
Global consumption of wine rose by 2 million hl to 244 million hl in 2017, according to the German Wine Institute (DWI), based on estimates by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
Following the global economic crisis in 2008, wine volumes dropped to 238 million hl from a peak of 250 million hl, but have since risen again.
The OIV estimates identify Portugal as the country with the highest per capita consumption of wine, at 58.8 litres per year, followed by France (50.7 litres) and Italy (44 litres). Germany ranks 10th with 28.2 litres. For China, the average consumption is 1.5 litres of wine per person per year.
In the traditional wine consumption countries with their own production, the OIV has registered a decline in consumption for some years. Correspondingly, global exports of wine have increased, reaching 108 million hl in 2017. This means that nearly every other bottle of wine was drunk outside its country of origin.
The DWI’s Managing Director, Monika Reule, predicts that German wine exporters will face tougher competition in the international market, although 2017 was a good year for German wine exports. They rose 7 percent by value and volume respectively over 2016. In total, 1.1 million hl of wine, valued at EUR 308 million (USD 350 million), were exported to 124 countries. Average prices climbed 1 percent to EUR 2.89 (USD 3.29) per litre. “Qualitätsweine” (quality wines), which accounted for 71 percent of exports, were sold for EUR 3.32 per litre on average, that is EUR 0.09 higher than in 2016.
