World wine production 2016 one of the poorest in 20 years

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 27 October, 2016

The amount of wine being produced worldwide has dropped to one of the lowest in 20 years according to the latest figures from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

Speaking at the World Congress of Vine and Wine conference, the OIV revealed that world wine production for 2016 (excluding juice and musts) is estimated at 259 million hectolitres (mhl) - making it one of the lowest in two decades.

This year has been marked by adverse climate conditions, which affected production mainly in Europe and South America.

Italy confirmed its position as the leading world producer with 48.8 mhl, followed by France with 41.9 mhl and Spain with 37.8 mhl.

The United States escaped the brunt of the adverse weather conditions which blighted Europe, producing more wine than last year with 22.5 mhl.

In South America, production dropped.

Unfavourable climate conditions including the El Nino storms brought production down to 8.8 mhl in Argentina, 10.1 mhl in Chile and 1.4 mhl in Brazil.

World Wine Production 2016 According to the OIV World Wine Production 2016 According to the OIV

The data showed a slight rise in global consumption in 2015, estimated at around 240 mhl (259 mhl excluding juice and musts).

This rise was mainly outside of the traditional consumption countries.

The United States confirmed its position as the biggest consumer country in the world, drinking 31 mhl in 2015.

Consumption was relatively stable in Italy (20.5 mhl) and Spain (10 mhl), yet continued to erode in France (27.2 mhl).

The level of consumption in China is estimated at 16 mhl - a slight increase (+0.5 mhl) compared with 2014.

The director general of the OIV, Jean-Marie Aurand spoke on the world vitivinicultural situation at the 39^th annual conference currently taking place in Brazil, where it was revealed that the grape is one of the most produced fruits in the world, with global grape production reaching 76 million tons in 2015.

Nearly half of grape production is vinified, 36% of grapes are consumed fresh and 8% are consumed in the form of dried grapes; the rest used for the production of fruit juice and must.

The size of the total world area under vines (including vineyards not yet in production) rose to 7.5 million hectares (mha) in 2015 - a slight growth of 28 thousand hectares (kha) compared with 2014.

The Chinese area under vine continued to increase by 34 kha, confirming its position as the country with the second largest vineyard surface area.

Conversely, EU vineyards continued in a slight downward trend, down 34 kha between 2014 and 2015.

Spain remains the clear leader in terms of the cultivated surface area with over a million hectares (1.021 mha) ahead of China (0.83 mha) and France (0.78 mha).

Printer friendly version