Exports of Alentejo wines decreased by 17% in quantity and 10% in value in the first half compared to the same period of 2017, but the average price per liter rose by 9%, the CVRA announced.
The Alentejo Regional Wine Commission (CVRA) stated that according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in the first half, there was “a 9% increase in the average price per liter of the region’s wines sold abroad. However, in the opposite direction, the CVRA admitted, there was “a 17% decrease in exports (in number of bottles), which is equivalent to a drop of 10% in export value, with a special focus on Europe and Africa”.
In the statement, the wine commission explains these decreases as a “consequence of the appreciation that has been observed by the increase in the average price of wine per liter”. The average price has increased “in all geographic areas where the region’s wines are sold,” which, for Francisco Mateus, President of CVRA, is a sign of recognition of the quality perceived by importers and consumers, who are ready to pay a higher price for the region’s wines “. Francisco Mateus also justified the decrease in exports in quantity and value, remembering that the Alentejo suffered “in the last three years, production breaks,” which “means that there is less wine available to sell.” “In three years our production dropped 25 million liters. Therefore, it was expected that, with less wine to sell, sales would begin to fall”, something that is also happening in the national market,” he said.
But if production breaks started three years ago, overseas sales are only now declining. In the first half of 2017, Lusa confirmed from data released at the time by the CVRA, exports grew 28% in value and 17% in quantity, compared to the same period of 2016.
Already this year, the CVRA had pointed to 2017 as “the best year for the Alentejo wines” on the level of exports, with an increase of almost 12% in value and 2.3% in quantity, also with the average price per liter increasing, more than 9% compared to 2016.
Asked about the fact that only now exports are declining, Francisco Mateus insisted that the producers “have less wine to sell”, but also added that, although there have been “reductions in several external markets”, the “big bump” happened in Angola.
This was “the market that has fallen the most,” he pointed out, justifying the decrease in sales with “the political turmoil and the redefinitions that the country has gone through with the new president” and the “currency crisis.”
“We have a good appreciation of the price in Angola, there were gains, but they are importing less, that is, the problem is not the product, which is of good quality and is valued, the problem is the economy of the destination country”, he said.
Still, the head of the CVRA said he expects the second half of this year to be better with a significant increase in exports, in the main markets, including Angola: “We expect sales to rise, especially with the effect of Christmas, which is always important, and thus reduce these losses”.
