China represent significant turnout at VINEXPO Bordeaux

Hong Kong and China represented the third-largest turnout of international buyers at VINEXPO Bordeaux 2009, the world's premier wine fair.

Held last month in Bordeaux from June 21-25, VINEXPO 2009 attracted a total of 46,621 professional buyers, with a record 15,851 (34 per cent of buyers), from 135 countries outside France.

Remarkably, the number of Hong Kong and China buyers was just behind the participants from the UK, with 1,322 professionals attending -- and ahead of the United States with around 1,091.

Hong Kong's significant turnout was partly attributed to the abolition of import duty on wine, which has significantly lowered retail prices for consumers.

Tax cuts are similarly understood to have accounted for a 92.86% increase in wine buyers from Thailand.

"The overseas contingent exceeded all estimations, especially the remarkable turnout from Hong Kong and China," said VINEXPO Chairman, Mr Xavier de Eizaguirre.

"It was a clear demonstration of the ambition of wine and spirits industry players to move forward and not yield to the ambient economic gloom.”

"A decrease in visitor numbers had been expected in view of the unstable economic climate, but this turned out to be limited to just 7.56%. 

“This 15th VINEXPO turned out to be commercially very active after a period of several months when international markets were in serious doubt."

The total professional attendance, along with 2,400 exhibitors, underlined VINEXPO's credentials as "the major international event for wine and spirits trade professionals", he said.

Club VINEEXPO also noted an 8.54% increase in membership to 1,652, which is once again attributable to more major Asian operators joining.

MARKETERS BY VINEXPO, a complimentary event focused on retailing solutions, featured 46 companies from 11 countries presenting the latest innovations to boost wine and spirits sales.

A satisfaction survey found 89% of the visitors were 'pleased' with VINEXPO 2009, and 29% were 'very pleased'.

Conferences on opportunities in export markets, packaging, wine tourism, sustainable development and even responsible consumption were attended by more than 10,000 professionals.

A total of 1,367 journalists from 54 countries covered the event.

VINEXPO 2009's surprisingly high attendance supported a recent VINEXPO / The IWSR study, which forecasted growth of 3.5% over the next five years -- and sales predicted to exceed US$390 billion by 2012.

VINEXPO is staged in Bordeaux every two years and in the Asia-Pacific on alternate years.

VINEXPO 2010 Asia-Pacific is in Hong Kong from May 25-27, 2010.