World wine consumption down – France still leads, USA closes in

The world-wide consumption of wine shrank somewhat in 2008 to reach 245 Mhl (down with 2.4 Mhl from 2007). Even if there is a gap between consumption and production we are far from the “wine lake” we hade some time ago. The difference between production and consumption is mostly absorbed by other uses (vinegar production, distillation). The biggest consumer is still France with almost 32 Mhl going down the throats (13% of world consumption). Not far behind is the USA (29 Mhl) that is expected to become the biggest consumer in one or two years. In third place is Italy. The fourth and fifth places are perhaps more surprising: Germany (21 Mhl) and China (13 Mhl). China has thus passed the UK (13 Mhl) in wine consumption, and Spain and Russia are not far behind. Europe accounts for 66% of all wine consumed, Asia 7%, America 22%, Africa 3%, and Oceania 2%. Source OIV:

Country forecast 2008, ‘000 hl in %

• France 31 750 -- 13,0%
• United states 28 516 -- 11,6%
• Italy 26 000 -- 10,6%
• Germany 20 747 -- 8,5%
• China 13 671 -- 5,6%
• United kingdom 13 483 -- 5,5%
• Spain 12 790 -- 5,2%
• Russia 11 000 -- 4,5%
• Argentina 10 677 -- 4,4%
• Romania 5 404 -- 2,2%
• World total 244 897