World Comparisons

World Comparisons

Data from the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) in its State of Vitiviniculture World Report dated March 2007, indicate that worldwide areas under vines in 2004 fell 0.4% from the 2003 total of 7.955 million hectares (Mha) to 7.923Mha. The total size of European vineyards fell by 47 thousand hectares, down a further 1% from 2003. The USA total area of vineyards also fell by 0.9% to 955 thousand hectares. Oceania recorded growth of 5.5% to reach 187 thousand hectares in 2004. Growth was particularly significant in New Zealand (15%) after having been concentrated in Australia previously. In 2004 Europe represented 59.1% of the surface area of world vineyards compared with 64.4% in 1998 and 69% at the end of the 1980s.

Grape production increased 6.3% from 63,556 million tonnes in 2003 to 671,304 million tonnes in 2004 (See Table). The top four countries (Italy, Spain, France and the United States) accounted for 43.5% of this production. Australia ranked 9th in 2004 with 3% of world grape production. Big movers in growth in terms of world production in 2004 versus 2003 were Italy (up 16.1%), Argentina (up 15.2%) and France (up 19.6%) while Australia also showed strong growth, up 34.6% compared with the drought-affected 2003 vintage. Significant growth has occurred in production in African countries with Egypt, South Africa and Tunisia recording 15.5%, 5.9% and 33.6% growth in production versus 2003, respectively.

Australia has moved up a position in the hierarchy of world wine to displace China as the 6th-largest wine producer in the world (See Table). World wine production increased 12.6% to 29,817ML in 2004 from 26,473ML in 2003. The top four countries France, Italy, Spain and the USA accounted for 58.2% of this production. Again, Oceania showed exceptional growth versus 2003. Australian production rose by 35.5% to 1381ML while New Zealand grew a whopping 116.7% to 119ML. Europe’s top 15 producing countries all showed growth versus 2003 with France leading the way in Europe with 5,738ML (up 23.8%).

France retained its position as the world’s number one wine exporter despite a decrease of 6.2% from 1514ML in 2003 to 1421ML exported in 2004 (See Table). Together with Italy the two countries accounted for 36.9% of all exports, Table 33. Amongst the Old World producers, Spain showed export growth of 13.6%, reaching 1,404ML of wine exported and Italy also showed 9.9% growth to 1,419ML. Australia grew its exports by 20.3% in 2004, reaching 645ML exported. New Zealand, from a lower base, grew its exports by a stunning 53.8% to 40ML.

Worldwide wine consumption increased by 0.7% to 23,696ML in 2004 (See Table). China led the way in growth terms, increasing 14.7% to 1,328ML consumed while Russia and Romania showed 16.9% and 14.9% growth respectively. Australia and New Zealand consumed 436ML and 77ML of wine respectively. Europe accounted for 53.37% of the world wine consumption.

Luxembourg’s population has the world’s highest per capita wine consumption, drinking 57.3 litres per year (See Table). Australians drank 21.9 litres of wine per capita in 2004, up 2.8% from 2003 while New Zealanders consumed 19.7 litres per capita, up 2.6%. Some notable rises included Greece, up 33.6% from 22.3 litres per capita in 2003 to 29.8 in 2004; Romania also showed growth of 15% to 26 litres per capita.