NZ Wine Sales Exceed 100 Million Litres
Total sales of NZ wine have exceeded 100 million litres for the first time according to NZ Winegrowers. For the year to the end of September 2005 global sales of NZ wine, including the domestic market, totalled 103 million litres, up 39 percent on the September 2004 year and up 89 percent on the year ending September 2003. According to NZ Winegrowers, the record sales performance has been driven by increased supplies of wine from the 2004 and 2005 vintages which have enabled wineries to be more aggressive in marketing and sales campaigns.
The growth figures have been dominated by increased exports. Over the past two years exports have more than doubled - from just 27 million litres for the September 2003 year to 56 million litres valued at over $460 million for the current September year.
While the industry sales performance overall was very encouraging, there were concerns in the industry. The downside of the strong sales performance is that a number of wineries are now starting to experience product shortages, which will need to be managed until the 2006 vintage comes on stream. The high NZ dollar has also slashed export profitability, while intense competition in the domestic market, though benefiting consumers, has reduced margins for wineries supplying local customers.
More information on the NZ wine and grape industry can be found at: http://www.nzwine.com/index.html |
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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