Italiano
Historic record in wine exports 2021: A 7.1 billion Euro (+12.4%)
An historic record for Italian wine trade in the world. In fact, 2021 will close with a 12.4% increase in value, for a total of 7.1 billion euros and a trade balance, one of the best-performing of the Made in Italy sector, with a surplus of almost 6.7 billion euros.
This was announced by the UIV-Vinitaly-Ismea Observatory, which processed the data released today by Istat on exports in the 12 months of 2021. According to the analysis, in a year strongly influenced by revenge spending, Italian wine (22.2 million hectoliters exported, +7.3%) consolidates the role of wine superpower thanks in particular to its PDO productions, which do better than the general average (+15.8% in value) with sparkling wines (+25.3%) that, thanks to yet another exploit of Prosecco (+32%) double the flattering increase in still wines (+12.3%). On the whole, DOP wines from Italy today represent 2/3 of exports in value recorded in 2021. In increase, more contained, also Igp (5.4%) and ordinary wines, +8.9%.
A year undoubtedly "inflated" by an economic situation favourable to post-Covid consumption, but which - according to the Italian Wine Union, Vinitaly and Ismea - accelerated the growth trend in demand for quality wines, as demonstrated by further growth, +4.7%, in the average price. A year, finally, "unrepeatable", also in the light of a 2022 that opened with many critical issues given by the costs of raw materials, the growth of inflation and, now, the conflict in Ukraine. Important confirmations come from the various areas of demand, in particular from non-EU countries (+14.2%), which now account for 61% of the market. Among the countries, green light for the entire top 10 led, as usual, by the United States (+18.4%), followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. Plus signs also for Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Belgium and Denmark. Among the emerging countries, China (+29.2%) and South Korea (75.5%) made an exploit.
For the Secretary General of the Italian Wine Union, Paolo Castelletti: "Last year, wine exports shattered all records, with a result that, compared to pre-Covid trends, would have been achieved within a five-year period. Now, however, the picture is worrying, with a series of factors that herald a difficult year. The strong erosion of margins due to the escalation of the costs of raw materials in the sector, the almost certain zeroing of the Russian market - on which counter-sanctions are awaited after Putin's recent signing of the decree blocking imports and exports from Russia - and above all a war which, together with the inflationary spiral, will heavily influence confidence and therefore global consumption, are the main critical elements we find".
For the Director General of Veronafiere, Giovanni Mantovani: "The Observatory analysis defines a 2021 market framework strongly influenced on a global scale by the revenge spending phenomenon. If, in the first year of Covid, Italian wine showed all its adaptability to the crisis - thanks to the better quality-price ratio and widespread sales channels compared to competitors -, in 2021 the Italian brand confirmed all its strength. The analysis of the markets and the outlook on consumption will characterize the increasingly business-oriented nature of the next Vinitaly, which is highly anticipated by foreign demand".
Press Office Unione Italiana Vini: Ispropress
