A study by the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro commissioned by the Port and Douro Wine Institute revealed that 75 million liters, 378 million euros, of wine from the Douro Demarcated Region were sold in 2017.
The figures are included in the study ‘Strategic Course for the Port and Douro Wine Sector’, which comes at a time when ‘forecasts for the next decade suggest that world wine production and consumption will evolve moderately’, as we read in the ‘framework’ section.
The decline in consumption in the producing countries is expected, but this scenario should be offset by the increase in other countries and even by the emergence of new markets.
“As a whole, it should not be enough to significantly change the geographical pattern of consumption. Regarding the figures, both production and consumption are expected to evolve in a positive way, following the preferences of consumers for superior wines”, according to the study.
In 2017 the estimated figures for total sales were 75 million liters and 378 million euros, divided by exports of 62 million liters and 304 million euros and sales in the domestic market of 13 million liters and 74 million euros. These figures mean that, compared to 2006, the total turnover has registered a decrease of 17.2% (volume) and 4.1% (in value).
Exports, however, decreased 19.6% (volume) and 7.7% (value), while the domestic market decreased 3% (volume), but increased 14.7% (value).
As far as Douro wine is concerned, the total turnover in 2017 was approximately 40 million liters and 157 million euros (3.94 euros/liter), i.e. 25 million liters and 96 million euros (3.84 euros/liter) on the domestic market and 15 million liters and 61 million euros (4.11 euros/liter) on the foreign market.
Thus, compared to 2006, total sales increased by 137.8% (volume) and 153.1% (value), while sales on the domestic market increased by 112.4% (volume) and 126.4% (value) and exports increased by 198.1% (volume) and 210.8% (in value).
“It is this scenario of challenges and opportunities that fits the proposed action plan, focusing on the proposed institutional measures to generate information and context conditions to strengthen the innovation and competitiveness of the wine sector of Douro and Porto, in an evolutionary perspective and continuity is the core of its identity matrix”, says the IVDP study.
In short, the authors of the study – Tim Hogg (general coordination), João Rebelo (scientific coordination) and Daniel Bessa (monitoring and evaluation) – still explain that “the measures aim to strengthen the sustainability of the wine sector in the Demarcated Region of Douro (RDD), by improving the access and adaptation of wines to the market, making the organizational structure more flexible, reducing transaction costs and promoting a continuous system of research, development and innovation.”