directly to the content
Vineyard Maps |
Shop |

Austrian Wine Exports Exceed All Expectations

Austrian wine exports were so successful in 2009, that they exceeded all expectations. Although the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) had cautiously predicted at its annual press conference last December that total exports for 2009 likely would remain unchanged from the previous year, the latest figures from Statistik Austria show a dramatic development: in 2009, exports rose by 5.3% in value and an incredible 16% in volume. With nearly 70 million liters of wine exported during the year, turnover increased from € 112 million to € 119 million.

development of export 1985-2009, Copyright AWMB
development of export 1985-2009, © Austrian Wine

Even with the voluminous 2008 harvest resulting in an over-proportional increase in barrel wine exports, the volume of bottled wine exports nevertheless rose by 3.7%. Moreover, the value of bottled wine exports increased by 4.4%. Also in the bottled wine segment, there was a slight average price per liter increase, from € 2.59 in 2008 to € 2.60 in 2009.

These results are all the more remarkable because Austria’s overall total exports for 2009 plunged by 20% - a consequence of the world economic downturn. Setting the pace for the outstanding wine export development were key markets including Germany (volume +15%; value +9%) and Switzerland/Liechtenstein (volume +27%; value +6%), and growing markets such as the Netherlands (volume +30%; value +27%); Sweden (volume +51%; value +38%), and Japan (volume +33%; value +10%).

export of bottled wine, Copyright AWMB
export of bottled wine, © Austrian Wine

"The successful development of Austrian wine has been underway for 10 years already, and is something very unique amongst European wine countries," said Willi Klinger, general manager of the AWMB. “When compared internationally, Austria is truly one of the most dynamic wine countries."

Josef Pleil, President of the Austrian Viticulture Association, conveyed his enthusiasm also: "Despite the current economic crisis, Austrian winemakers managed in 2009 to further grow wine exports in both quantity and value – and not least also because of the outstanding work that the AWMB has been doing for several years now."

| Print