Spanish wine exports: 1st half 2005

The Federación Española del Vino has just released export data on Spanish wines for the first half of 2005, which contains some interesting items.

Whites take off:
So long regarded as not worth their while, Spanish white wine exports have been growing dramatically in 2005. While still only accounting for 24% of bottled wine exports, in the first six months this year, white wine exports have nearly doubled in volume and value of shipments to 53.7 million euros and 57 million liters from the same period a year ago.

Table wines are moving:
This is against a background of relatively unchanged bottled wine exports. In total for all bottled wines, except sparkling, the trends show increases in value of 4% and volume of 9%. This illustrates the growth of lower priced, non Denominación de Origen wines which are up 17% in value and 15% in volume.

Cava, Spain's traditional method sparkling wine, shows slight growth at 4% in value and 1.5% in volume. Not really surprising as the majority of cava shipments happen in the second half of the year as people get ready for year-end festivities.

In looking at markets of destination for D.O. wines, the trends show:
Germany continues to import the most volume at 36 million liters at a cost of 62.8 million euros,
UK spends the most, buying 28 million liters at a cost of 65.4 million euros
The US imports 10.5 million liters at a cost 42 million euros.
In paying more than double the price of Germany the US market shows the effects of a weak dollar, or perhaps a taste for more expensive wines!

For Cava, Germany imported 19 million liters, nearly 3 times the UK, the next largest customer, who in turn imported nearly double that of France (switching from Champagne?) and the US, the next two largest markets.