Wine Export Increased Again in 2003
(AWMB/June 2004) - Preliminary wine export numbers, fresh from the press, show that Austria was able to export more wine in 2003 than ever before. Especially positive are developments in Germany, Switzerland and the US. Even the new EU countries in Eastern Europe are more and more interested in Austrian wines.
The export numbers of Austrian wines show great successes for 2003. While export targets were reached in 2002, the results for last year show an increase of nine percent in volume and ten percent in value. In 2003,83 million litres of wine with a total value of 69 million Euro were exported. “This result is excellent, especially under today’s economic conditions. Our wines really hit the spot,” says Michael Thurner, Director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Service about the preliminary export numbers. “We are in the fast lane and especially the high-quality segment is in great demand. The patience and hard work of the last years are now paying off.”
The most important export country remains Germany, with 64 percent of
total exports. In terms of value, Switzerland (7 Euro per bottle) and
the USA (6 Euro per bottle) are leading.
More positive developments come from the new member states of the European
Union. Apart form the traditionally strong exports of bulk wine, there is also
a trend towards higher-quality wines. The average price of a bottle of Austrian
wine in the Czech Republic and Poland reached 2.2 Euro in 2003. “The
basis for long-term export success in these countries is already there. Now
we have to further the image of our wine country in order to increase sales
and build on our success,” comments Michael Thurner.
Press Information/June 2004
AWMB Susanne Staggl
Prinz-Eugen-Str. 34/7, A-1040 Vienna
Phone: +43 (0)1 503 92 67, Fax: +43 (0) 1 503 92 68
s.staggl@winesfromaustria.com
