Vinexpo numbers down slightly on 2007

Visitor numbers for this year’s Vinexpo were down slightly on 2007, but organisers insist the figures represent a great success in the current economic climate.

Vinexpo 2009 attracted 46,621 trade visitors from 135 countries during the five-day exhibition in Bordeaux last month – a drop of 7.5% compared with the last show in 2007.

However, this year’s show set a new record by attracting more non-French visitors than ever before, with 34% (15,851) of visitors coming from outside France.

While French numbers were down 9.7% they were still the majority in attendance. The UK registered second place for the number of visitors with an increase of 1.5% over 2007 to 1,322.

The growing interest in the industry in Asia was reflected in the fact that visitor numbers from China and Hong Kong increased 63.3% to 1,189.

The number of visitors from North America was similar to 2007 at 1,660 with two-thirds from the US and one third from Canada.

Europe maintained its interest in Vinexpo with visitors from Belgium up by 4.5%, Netherlands 5.5%, and Switzerland up 5.8%.

Xavier de Eizaguirre, chairman of Vinexpo, said: “We are delighted with this 15th Vinexpo, which hosted high quality business transactions and turned out to be commercially very active after a period of several months when international markets were in serious doubt.”

Alan Lodge, 08.07.2009