World vinicultural view
Argentine
Shipments fell a little less than 4 percent in 2009 in Argentina. As per containers, there has been a 5 percent drop in carton and a 2 percent drop in bottles, always speaking in terms of volume. However, segmented exports rose 3 percent in volume. (1) Bodegas de Argentina reported that the INV audited US$ 100 million investments for the sparkling wine sector between 2005 and 2008 excelling the investments engaged with the Argentine government. Thus, the tax exemption has been extended until 2012. (2)
After 6 years of continuous growth, alcoholic beverages exports fell by around 12 percent in 2009 even though production levels increased almost 1 percent (in comparison to 5 percent average growth rate in the last 3 years). (3)
United States and Canada
The American giant Brown-Forman announced that in spite of 1 percent fall in sales during the first nine months, the yearly objectives remain unchanged. Sales reached US$ 2.9 billion. The net result increased by 6 percent reaching US$ 376 million compared with the same period last year. (4)
The American Constellation Brands has decided to close part of its bottling operation in Reynella (Australia) moving its production to the United Kingdom as part of its reorganization strategy. In the United Kingdom, the company manages Constellation Park, a wine bottling plant marketing all around Europe. (5)
In 2009, according to a report by IRI consultant on the fastest-growing wines (“momentum”), 27 out of the 30 first ones belong to the State of California. In spite of the fact that 30 percent of wine consumption corresponds to imported wines, in the before mentioned raking there is only one imported wine, which comes from Chile. Out of the total, The Wine Group gathered the greatest amount of growing trademarks, followed by E&J Galo. The report included a ranking of the 10 new trademarks with the greatest momemtum, wherein Argentina included one wine. (6)
Latin America, Australia and New Zealand
According to AC Nielsen, New Zealand wine sales increased 42 percent in Australia last year. In Australia, which was once dominated by Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc (main varietal exported by New Zealand) represents the 30 percent of the consumed white wine. (7)
The Australian firm NuKork, the world’s second biggest synthetic cork producer has filed for bankruptcy. The company, which had a production capacity of 1.3 billion closures a year, opened subsidiaries in Napa (California) and in Barcelona (Spain). Founded in 1996, the firm achieved a steady growth in its first decade but the global economic crisis, the fall of the Australian viticultural industry and the local currency decrease affected significantly the business profitability. (8)
Chile’s earthquake has caused US$ 250 million loss, ruining somehow more than 12 percent of the present production. It is estimated that 100 million litres were lost in the industry. (9) (10)
The wine Chilean giant, Concha y Toro, was forced to stop production for 2 weeks due to the earthquake that devastated the country. However, the company declared that the present harvest has not been modified. (11) (12)
Chilean total wine exports had a 35 percent increase in volume and 16 percent in foreign exchange which implies an aggregated growth of 22 percent in volume and 2 percent in revenues. Bottled wine exports during the last 12 months added up to US$ 1.151 million. (13)
Europe
The French company Pernod Ricard announced that it had hired Barclays Capital to coordinate issuing bonds in Euros. Neither the amount of the operation or the destination of the funds were specified. The French giant aims at reducing the debt entered by the vodka trademark Absolut in 2008 by paying US$ 7.600 million. During the first months of the present business year, the company reduced its debt in € 565 million due to the strong generation of cash and to the sell of Tía María. (14)
The umbrella trademark Sud de France, which gathers producers and traders from the Languedoc Roussillon region was able to double exports to China surpassing 10 million boxes. The Regional Committee has opened an office in Shanghai by the end of 2007. (15)
Asia and Rest of the world
In 2013, China will consume 1.26 billion bottles of wine increasing consume by 32 percent as regards 2009, according to Vinexpo assessments. By 2013, China is expected to be world's seventh largest wine consumer. Imported wines account for 12 percent of total consumption and their share is expected to climb to about 16 percent in 2013. In Hong Kong, consumption is projected towards a 72 percent growth. (16)
Fuentes:
Sources: (1) INV Feb-10; (2) INV Centro de Prensa 9/03/10; (3) Diario Norte 9/03/10,
(4) Just Drinks 10/03/10; (5) The Sydney Morning Herald 10/03/10; (6) Wines & Vines 08/03/10,
(7) ONE News 05/03/10; (8) Decanter.com 05/03/10; (9) USA Today 04/03/10; (10) Diario La Nación de Chile 08/03/10; (11) Just Drinks 02/03/10; (12) Just Drinks 11/03/10; (13) Vendimia.cl 09/03/10,
(14) Just Drinks 10/03/10; (15) Just Drinks 26/02/10,
(16) AFP 02/03/10,
