Wine Export Increases by 44 Percent

The National Wine Agency has published data which shows that 15,053,106 bottles of wine (bottles of 0.75 liter) were exported from Georgia to 34 countries worldwide in January - May 2016. This is 44 percent higher than this time last year. In the review period, USD 35.04 million (74 million GEL) worth of wine was exported, 16 percent higher year-on-year.

The Agency also stated that in total, wine, chacha, wine materials, brandy on tap and brandy alcohol export income this year has already exceeded USD 61.1 million (129 million GEL) making wine a consistent sales and export leader.

Georgian wine exported to China rose by 106 percent, amounting to 1,242,523 bottles. This is followed by Ukraine and Russia with a 73 percent and 59 percent increase, respectively. Russia is also a leader among the importing countries with 7,560,974 bottles. Ukraine has 1,853,663 bottles and in third place is Kazakhstan with 1,620,046 bottles from Georgia so far this year.

In addition, 3,330,333 bottles of brandy (0.5 liter bottles) were exported to 13 countries worldwide, 69 percent more year-on-year with 2015. In total, USD 7.7 million (16 million GEL) worth of brandy was exported this year.

Eka Karsaulidze