Portugal dominates cork production

17 billion wine bottles were sealed in 2009. 11.3 billion (66%) used “natural” cork, 3.1 bn used screw cap, and 2.9 bn used synthetic corks. The by far biggest producer of 'natural' cork is Portugal. Here are the major cork producers (source: La Vigne, Apcor):

• Portugal: 157,000 tonnes (52%) 
• Spain: 88,400 tonnes (29%) 
• Italy: 17,000 tonnes (5.6%) 
• Algeria: 15,000 tonnes (5%) 
• Morocco: 11,000 tonnes (3.6%) 
• Tunisia: 7,500 tonnes (2.5%) 
• France: 3,400 tonnes (1%)