World Comparisons

World Comparisons

Data from the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) in its Structure of the World Vitivincultural Industry in 2007, indicate that worldwide the area under vines in 2007 decreased 0.3% to 7,792,300 ha (see table below). This total is considerably lower than the period between 1976-80 when the figure was 10,213,000 ha.

Europe has seen its area under vines steadily decline since 2000. However in 2007, the continent's overall decrease of 0.8% was less than its average decrease reported since 2000. In Asia, the growth of Chinese vineyards grew after posting a reduction in 2005, but the pace of growth slowed from that recorded between 1998 and 2003-04.

Oceania continued to expand its area under vines, with 2007 totals up by 8% over 2006. However, the pace of expansion was slower than that of 1995 and 2002. Following a period of substantial increase in Australia, this pace of expansion was particularly noticeable in relative terms in New Zealand.

Spain, France and Italy account for 37.0% of total world vineyard area.

Grape production dropped slightly by 0.3% to 65,522 million tonnes in 2007 (see table below). The top five countries (Italy, China, Spain, France, and the United States) accounted for 48.6% of this production. Australia ranked 10th in 2007 with 2.3% of world grape production. Big movers in growth in terms of world production in 2007 versus 2006 were China (+6.8%) and the US (+10.9%). Italy, Spain and France all saw drops in production. Grape production in Asia increased by 3.6% backed by large gains in China and Turkey.

World wine production in 2007 stood at 26,599 ML (-6.1% over 2006) which is lower than the average of the past five-year period (see table below). The drought in Australia caused it to shift from the 6th-largest wine producer in the world in 2005 to the 9th. The top three countries - Italy, France and Spain - accounted for 55% of world wine production. Italy surpassed France as the leading producer, a position France has held since 1999. The Americas saw a 2.2% increase in production as the US returned to more normal production values. Whereas Europe's top producers showed a loss in wine production, gains were noted by Germany and Russia.

The world wine market continues to show healthy growth as wine exports increased (+6.8%) in 2007 which is a 23.8% increase on the 2001-2005 average (see table below). The world market accounted for 36.2% of world consumption in 2007, against a scant 18.2% on average from 1986-1990. It is therefore the wine market which, in relation to the other products of the sector, has seen its degree of internationalisation develop fastest since 1990. Italy remained the number one exporter and increased its lead with a slight 0.6% gain in 2007. Australia maintained a strong fourth place as exports increased (+3.4%). New Zealand, from a lower base, grew its exports (+31.5%) to 76.0 ML in 2007. The top four countries comprised 63.4% of the world's exports with the top two countries claiming 37.7%.

Worldwide wine consumption increased by 2.8% to 24,919 ML in 2007 (see table below) despite drops in consumption in France, Italy and Spain. Europeans consumed 66% of the world's wine in 2007 but this position is eroding as it was 73.8% at the end of the 1980s. Russia surpassed Argentina as the eighth largest consumer and posted an 8.7% gain. China continues to be a driving force as its consumption grew by 2.3% in 2007.

France's population has the world's highest per capita wine consumption, drinking 52.1 litres per year (down 8.0% from 2003) (see table below). The OIV previously rated Luxembourg as one of the highest per capita wine drinking countries but now believes that much of the wine purchased there is by visitors to the country. Per capita consumption has dropped in the traditional wine producer and consumer countries such as France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. High levels of individual consumption are logically found in those countries that are traditional producers of wine. Australians drank 22.9 litres of wine per capita in 2007, up 8.5% from 2003.