AMSTERDAM/CIUDAD REAL Nov. 25 (EUROPA PRESS) – The 16th edition of World Bulk Wine Exhibition, the largest bulk wine fair in Europe, started this Monday in Amsterdam with more than 250 exhibitors in a two-day event in which has focused on the need to support exports to guarantee the survival of producers and a call for reflection has been made in a context of falling sales and level consumption. global. The CEO of Vinexposium, Rodolphe Lameyse, explained in statements to Europa Press at the beginning of the first day that this edition becomes important especially given the economic context in which it is produced, after the “poorest sales ever recorded” in the current year and in the face of a “geopolitical uncertainty” derived from the situation worldwide, from the Presidency of the United States to the legislative changes in the United Kingdom, including the role of China. He has admitted “concern”, a concern that “has been there for years” in which consumption has been seen falling, something related to “climate incidents” from droughts to floods. On this board, the important thing now is “resilience and seeking solutions and business opportunities” with a view to reaching “new business angles.” This is where the importance of the Amsterdam fair is highlighted, since it is key according to the organizer to open the focus to the foreign market. At this point, he stressed that 40 years ago, 80% of exports were capitalized in France, Italy or Spain, which today only export 40% of the total. «The market is very dynamic and the wine industry is what it is. The time of satisfying only the domestic market is over. Today, all over the world and with exchange agreements, it is key to export so that companies can develop,” he stated.
MORE THAN 250 EXHIBITORS
The CEO of Pomona Keepers, Otilia Romero de Condés, highlighted at the beginning of this fair that it is an edition with 255 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, adding that there will be buyers of fifty nationalities, which opens the possibility business in Amsterdam. After celebrating the atmosphere with which the day began, he considered that the market is showing “symptoms of traffic jam” and now it is time to analyze “how to manage the crisis.” To do this, he suggests analyzing consumer trends now that certain wines are being bought more in line with fashion, a context in which it is time to “think about what to do with those wines that are not coming out,” and see if there is a lack of “quality or design.” appropriate”. Given this need for reflection, he has highlighted the cycle of conferences that the WBWE will host during its two days, which will help “see where the sector is going” and analyze which paths the way of communicating will take in the future. At this point, it has opened the door to the need to explore new avenues in the field of marketing also in bulk wine, which today “does not exist” and which can be an effective tool in the short and medium term.
CONSUMPTION FALLS, VALUE FALLS
During the opening of the fair, it was evident with data from the International Organization of Vine and Wine that wine consumption has fallen in 2023 to 221 million hectoliters, 2.6% less, dragged down by the upward inflationary trend. of the global market, which have also increased the price of the product. Wine exports have also experienced declines; while the price of bulk wine has risen exponentially in the last four years to reach 3.62 euros per liter, which represents almost 30% from 2023. In the global market, all formats fall, from 9 % decrease in bottled wine to 4% in bulk wine, with drops in value of 6 and 10% respectively based on 2022 data. However, The importance of exports is because 45% of the total wine consumed is imported wine.
The Amsterdam bulk wine fair starts, aiming for more exports and asking for reflection to overcome the crisis
