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Exports of Italian wines to countries outside the EU increased sharply in the first two months of 2024. This was announced by the Osservatorio UIV-Vinitaly. Compared to 2023, 17 per cent more wine was exported with an increase in value of 13 per cent. France exported five per cent more wine in the same period, while the value fell by six per cent. Italian wines achieved the strongest growth in the UK (+22%), Japan (+40%), China (+33%) and Russia (+116%). Significantly more orders were also recorded from North America. The picture is clouded by reports of declining consumption in the most important markets, Italy and the USA. According to market research companies, wholesale and retail wine purchases in Italy fell by three per cent in the first eleven weeks of the year. In the USA, consumption of Italian wine fell by a total of 7.5 per cent in January and February, of which four per cent was in the restaurant trade and 8.5 per cent in the retail trade.
Paolo Castelletti, Secretary General of the Italian Wine Association (UIV), commented on the figures: "Two positive or negative months are not enough to outline the future strategies of the industry. But the market signal coming from exports is certainly positive, as is the lead over competitors. Hopefully all this can be consolidated in the medium term."
(al / Agrisole)