Bordeaux wine exports surge in 2007

Export sales for Bordeaux wines in 2007 sets a new record of 1.4 billion Euros for a volume of 1.93 million hectolitres.

Export sales represents 41% of total Bordeaux wine sales in 2007 and show a 9% rise compared to 2006 (+ 7% in volume) and 30% compared to 2005, therefore an additional 322 million Euros (+7% in volume).

This increase is the result of:

- the evolution of Bordeaux wine supply towards the 4.5 Euros to 15 Euros price bracket (a rise of 8% compared to 2006), to the detriment of lower-end-range wines.

- the unvarying success of Great Growth wines.

Globally, Bordeaux wines represents 32% of the value of all still wine exports in the French trade balance in 2007.

· The increase is significant in exports of Bordeaux wine to non-European countries. They rose by 11% in value and 13% in volume compared to 2006 and represent 37% of all Bordeaux exports.

· Canada: Bordeaux wine exports in Canada registered a rise of 6% in value and volume. In 2007, Bordeaux wines represented 12.5% of Canadian sales of French wines; an increase of plus 1% compared to 2006. Overall, 64 540 hectolitres (hl) of Bordeaux wines were sold in Canada in 2007.

· The volume of Bordeaux wine exported to the United States shows an increase of 6%, putting this country in second position in terms of value, with a sales of 196 million Euros.

· Asia is still extremely active with significant increases, particularly in China, which recorded a 158% upsurge in value and a rise in volume of 82%, between 2006 and 2007. Hong Kong also marked an excellent increase of 81% in value and 54% in volume over the same period. The situation was favourable too in South Korea (+66% in value and +40% in volume) and Singapore, with a growth of 94% in volume and 33% in value.

· Russia remains very dynamic and shows an increase of 17% in value and 43% in volume for sales that stands at 14 million Euros.

· As for European countries, the recovery of Bordeaux wine exports shows an increase of 6% in value (+3% in volume) compared to 2006, and represents 63% of all Bordeaux exports.

· The United Kingdom: Sales of 235 million Euros represented 280 747 hectolitres: a rise of 4% (9% in volume) compared to 2006.

· Ireland: Increase of 29% in value and 28% in volume over the same period.

· Belgium: Second position for volume and third position for value with a 10% rise in sales compared with 2006.

· Germany: First market for Bordeaux wines in terms of volume: increase of 2% since 2006. Sales which stands at 126 million Euros (+1% compared with 2006).

· The Netherlands: Upturn of 12% in value and 8% in volume since 2006. Sales of 45 million Euros.