World Wine Statistics: World wine consumption down, but exports up

Consumption of wine in 2008 shrunk with 2 million hl, but the world wine market is becoming increasingly global. 37% of all wine produced were exported, i.e. were drunk in another country than where it was made. That’s up from 18% in the early 80s. World wine consumption is estimated to have reached 242,.9 Mhl in 2008, which is 2 Mhl less than in 2007. Ironically, it is primarily the big wine producing countries that have seen the consumption fall. In the “EU-15” people drank 2.2 Mhl less. It’s the first time in several years that wine consumption falls. (Source: OIV)