National Wine Agency: Wine Export Up

According to data conducted by the National Wine Agency (NWA) of Georgia, wine export increased into EU countries over the past 10 months with most Georgian wine going to the Polish market.

According to NWA officials, over the last 10 months Georgia exported 28,101.431 bottles (0.75 L) of wine to 42 countries around the world which amounts US $77.2 millionl

1.8 million bottles of Georgian wine were exported to China, 87% higher than past year. China is fourth among the top five Georgian wine exporting countries after Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Export has increased into EU countries: Poland - 2% (1,260.870 bottles), Latvia - 3% (924,792), Estonia - 35% (389,274), Germany - 14% (211,236), Netherlands - 88% (47,232) and France - 104% (29,100).

Export also increased in such strategically important markets as the US - 26% (209,339), Japan - 19% (126,686), Canada - 66% (147,636), Kyrgyzstan - 168% (172,536), Israel – 212,% (33,720), Korea - 37% (24,054) and other.

The top five Georgian wine exporting countries are as follows: Russia – 14,660.981, Kazakhstan – 4,004.586, Ukraine – 2,569.249, China – 1,807.955, and Poland – 1,260.870 bottles.

“Due to political and economic events in the region, a sharp decline of export figures in two largest exporter countries, Russia (-54%) and Ukraine (-61%), reflected on the overall 10-month export figure which has reduced by 43% compared to the same period of 2014,” states the NWA.

In addition, according to NWA data, during the reporting period, the country exported 5,450.321 bottles (0.5 L) of brandy into 17 countries (US $14.2 million); 7.1 million liters of brandy spirit in 7 countries (US $21.7 million); and 104,580 bottles (0.5 L) of Chacha (Georgian pomace brandy) in 20 countries (US $403 million).

Overall, according to data of the NWA, income derived from exports of wine, brandy, Chacha, wine materials, pouring brandy and brandy spirits in January-October reached US $115.6 million.By

Ana Akhalaia