Austrian exports slide 4% during 2015

Exports of Austrian wine fell 4% during 2015 following the “problematic” 2014 harvest – but there was growth in the UK market.

Reported wine exports fell to 48m L, worth around €143m, according to figures released by Statistik Austria – the first dip in revenue in eight years. The falls, down from 50mL worth €145m last year, come on the back of poor sales of sparkling wines, sekt and frizzante, and bulk wine, it said. Sales of sparkling were reported to be in a “fully-fledged slump”, but sales of bottled red wine sales were up 13.5% to €4m.

Overall sales in Europe fell 4.8%, largely on the back of poor growth in existing markets Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Italy, although there was growth in the UK, Britain, Belgium and Denmark.

Growth was also good in Switzerland, the USA, Norway, Hong Kong and Russia, but sales in China and Japan were down, it reported.

2014 saw persistent rain across the country, and volumes fell 1.1%, although this was not as low as many experts feared.  However there is increased demand for the stronger 2015 vintage which is just becoming available, Austrian wine reported.

“The level of interest for these marvellous red and white premium bottlings can be strongly felt after the VieVinum fair in June, both domestically and on the international markets,” it said.

Although the volume of wine has fallen from 83m L in 2003 from 83m L, the net value has more than doubled, up from €69m, demonstrating the shift from lower quality table and ‘jug’ wine, to higher value bottled wines.