Central Cooperative Union of Vine Products: Greek wine exports by country

Greek wine exports were on an upward trajectory in 2022, setting a record both in quantity and value, while the evolution of wine exports over time and in comparison with the previous year is of particular interest, by country and by destination in the European Union or Third countries.

The picture is different in each market separately, taking into account the outbreak of the covid 19 pandemic, which caused an overall decrease in wine exports in 2020, which, however, according to the Central Cooperative Union of Vine Products , has “healed” in 2021. Accordingly, in 2022 the upward trend of Greek wine shipments and exports, which in important markets exceeds the levels of 2019.

The first six countries exporting Greek wines to the EU represent 90.15% of total exports by value for 2022 and concerns Germany, Cyprus, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria in order of value.

Germany

Further improvement is observed in the performance of the first export market for Greek wine (53.94% of exports to the EU in value), since an increase in value is recorded in 2022 compared to 2021 by 8.23% (€28,262,377/ 2021 – €30,588,190/2022), while a slight decrease of 1.60% is observed in quantity (12,187,820 kg/2021 – 11,993,167 kg/2022). A notable increase of 9.99% is also recorded in the exported average selling price (€2.32/kg/2021 – €2.55/kg/2022) in 2022.

The comparison with the 5-year average shows this year an annual increase in the value of shipped Greek wines by 4.30%, but also a corresponding decrease in quantity by 10.91%. The average selling price of wine deliveries recorded an increase of 16.79%, which illustrates the continuous increase in average price over the previous 5 years.

As we mentioned above, the safest route for the course of exports in this particular market is the comparison between the years 2019/2022, a comparison according to which there is an increase in value by 1.05% and correspondingly a decrease in quantity by 12.95%, a decrease that “contributes” to the increase in the average selling price.

Cyprus

Now firmly in second place, the Cypriot market continues to be the most important export destination for Greek wine, since this year it is also ranked high in the EU.

The evolution of the value of wines shipped to this country is indicative, since the percentage change in 2022 compared to 2021 is recorded at +16.24% (€6,500,950/2021 – €7,556,711/2021), while the corresponding change (in value) of the 5-year average amounts to +35.38%, a percentage that illustrates the steady upward trend in value in this market. However, the average sale price of wine shipments has decreased (-15.93%) compared to 2021 (3.88 €/kg/2021 – 3.26 €/kg/2022) which is also slightly lower compared to 5-year average (-0.99%).

The changes in the quantity of exported wine in kg followed an impressive upward trend in 2022 compared to 2021 by 38.26% (1,677,160 kg/2021 – 2,318,814 kg/2022), while the comparison of 2022 with the 5-year average, the shipped quantities of wine to Cyprus appear to have increased by 3.34%. The comparison of 2022 with 2019 shows a further positive change in sizes. Thus, in terms of value, exports showed an increase of 25.74% and in quantity they also showed an increase of 3.15%.

France

As impressive as the size reduction in the French market was in 2021, it is as positive in 2022.

The explosively increasing change can be explained by the timing of the shipment of wines from 2021 to 2022, due to a change in pricing method, or the pricing date of shipments, which are marginally priced at the beginning of the following year.

Considering the above, Greek wine shipments in value showed a significant increase of 454.77% in 2022 compared to 2021 (€1,169,123/2021 – €6,485,955/2022), by 920.16% in quantity (346,530 kg /2021 – 3,535,164 kg/2022), while a decrease is also observed in the average selling price of wines by 45.62% (€3.37/kg 2021 – €1.83/kg 2022).

The change in sizes compared to the previous 5 years was similar, since 2022 compared to the 5 years 2017 – 2021 showed an increase of 46.78% in value and also an increase of 39.77% in quantity. The average unit price per kg decreased by 10.97% (5-year MO: €2.06/kg – 2022: €1.83/kg)

Italy

Italy presents an image of “sinking” of Greek wine shipments, with -80.47% from 2021, and -95.24% by value.

Third countries

The main destinations (USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, Norway) of export of Greek wines in value with non-E.U. destination, i.e. to Third Countries, represent in 2021 86.21% of the total Greek exports in value to Third Countries (€36,439,132).

In more detail:

USA

The market with the most dynamic growth worldwide, but also the most intense competition, shows a remarkable performance of the export growth rate in 2022, for Greek wine and rightly remains the first choice as a target country for the Greek wine sector, in terms of Third Countries.

Due to the pandemic in this market in 2020, the figures moved negatively in export value (-36.53%) and in quantity (-31.54%).

Greek wine exports in value to the USA show a significant increase of 25.85%. in 2022 compared to 2021 (€14,216,726/2021 – €17,892,328/2022).

A similar but smaller increase is also seen in the exported quantities of wine in 2022 compared to 2021 by 10.01% (2,554,699 kg/2021 – 2,810,419 kg/2022), while a notable increase is also observed in the average sale price of exported wines in 2022 compared to of 2021 by 14.40% (€5.56/kg/2021 – €6.37/kg/2022).

The same figures in 2022 compared to the 5-year average 2017–2021 also show an increasing trend.

In value, a long-term 5-year average increase of 47.20% is recorded, in quantity, an increase of 24.91% is also recorded, while an increase in the average selling price is recorded compared to the 5-year average, which amounts to 18.24%, and illustrates the price growth dynamics of the previous 5 years, but also achieves the goal of increasing the perceived value of Greek wine

Undoubtedly, this is the most dynamic (together with Canada and the UK) market outside the European Union for Greek wine, since it presents characteristics of a mature market. The figures of 2022 compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, show an impressive increase in value by +34.06% in quantity by +17.32%, while the average price increased by 14.36%.

Canada

Canada unlike the US showed an increase in sizes during the pandemic in the years 2020, 2021.

The upward trend of exports continued in 2022 as last year there was an increase in the value of wine exports compared to 2021 by 8.28% (7,295,255 €/2021 – 7,899,409 €/2022), while an increase was also recorded in exported quantities by 7.5% (1,404,635 kg/2021 – 1,509,925 kg/2022). Due to the above changes, the average selling price also shows a slight increase by 0.73% (€5.19/kg/2021 – €5.23/kg/2022).

A similar picture is presented by the intertemporal trend of the sizes obtained through their comparison with the average of the previous 5 years.

That is, in terms of value, the increase compared to the average of the previous 5 years is recorded at +25.78%, in terms of quantity the increase amounts to 15.48%, while the average selling price has increased by 9.22%.

United Kingdom

The U.K. for the second year after two decades, is placed in the top three importing countries for Greek wines.

It is third top country now attracting the interest of Greek winemakers as a destination, since promotion programs are also “running” in tteh UK.

In terms of change in export volumes, the export performance in the UK is impressive, it appears to be growing at a satisfactory pace.

In value in 2022 compared to 2021, the increase is recorded at +13.15% (2021: €6,197,261 – 2022: €7,012,441), in quantity at +14.93% (2021: 1,616,371 kg – 2022 : 1,857,776 kg), while a slight decrease is also observed in the change in the average export price, by 1.55% (2021: €3.83/kg – 2022: €3.77/kg).

Finally, the upward trend is also confirmed by the comparison of 2022 with the five year average since positive signs are recorded in value (+96.28%), in quantity (+73.33%) and in average unit price (+15.83%).

The re-approach of the UK market started with a particular dynamic and it looks like a continuation of this upward trend for Greek wine.