World Wine and Spirits Market Pursues(3)
By 2009-3-11 13:15:23
In 2007, the UK became the leading world consumer of imported wines
The UK became the leading wine import market in 2007, stealing the number one spot from Germany, which was historically the top importer of wine. The growth rate in the consumption of imported wine in the UK should slow down between 2008 and 2012, compared to the preceding period (5.90% against 12.42% from 2003 to 2007)
Another noteworthy development was the entry in 2007 of the Russian Federation into the club of the Top 10 consumer countries of imported wine. The Russians went straight to the number 4 spot, having been the 11th largest importer in 2003. Volumes imported into Canada soared between 2003 and 2007, growing by 31.98%. This trend should continue from 2008 to 2012 at an expected rate of 29.44%.
Italy is the leading wine exporter in the world in volume
In 2007, Italy became the leading wine exporter in the world, having sent 170.056 million cases across its borders. After the stabilisation of its wine exports between 2003 and 2007, which decreased in volume by 0.95%, France is still nevertheless the first exporter in value with $9b (+26% compared to 2003)
The world spirits market
World spirits consumption reached 2.224 billion 9-litre cases in 2007
After a 4.56% increase between 2003 and 2007, world spirits consumption amounted to 2.224 billion 9-litre cases by the end of the period. According to the Vinexpo / The IWSR study, it should only grow by a further 0.36% between 2008 and 2012.
Asia and Europe are stabilising their consumption …
The leading spirits consuming continent, Asia, accounted for 46.76% of total world consumption in 2007, 5.48% more than in 2003.
Between 2008 and 2012, Asians are expected to drink 2.80% less spirits, reaching 1.013 billion cases by the end of the period.
Consumption in Europe, the second largest spirits consuming region in the world, will plateau between 2008 and 2012.
… but the American continent pursues significant growth in its consumption of spirits
North and Latin America, which account for 18.93% of world spirits consumption, will pursue the growth in their spirits markets reported over the past five years as amounting to 7.95%, with an 7.83% increase between 2008 and 2012.
“Local spirits” are consumed less
“Local” or “national spirits” account for more than half the total volume of spirits consumed in the world, equivalent to 53.7% in 2007.
It is mainly these categories of products that the overall decrease in world consumption will impact between 2008 and 2012. They are expected to lose 4.11% of their volumes over the period, particularly rice-based spirits that are drunk in Asia, which will be progressively replaced by wine.
Vodka maintains its international leadership
Having sold 515.06 million 9-litre cases in 2007, vodka is by far the leading spirit to be drunk worldwide and its consumption will increase by a further 5.29% by 2012.
Cognac and Armagnac will maintain strong growth of 9.53% between 2008 and 2012.
Rum consumption continues to grow as well as that of Scotch whisky, 89.6 million cases of which should be consumed by 2012.
On the other hand, gin continues its inexorable decline worldwide despite the efforts to reposition the product by the major brands. Between 2003 and 2012, gin will have lost the equivalent of 15.52 million cases.
From Vinexpo