by Meininger’s Wine Business International

Based on the data available to the end of November, industry analysts expect Italian exports to the United States to surpass $1.3bn in 2007. With a market share on total import volumes of 30%, Italy has widened its lead on France, which hovers at 22%, albeit with a higher average price. In particular sparkling wines, lead by Prosecco, are up by 16% to over 15m litres.

The last complete statistics with moving annual totals date from the 31st of July 2007. At that time the United States had imported 2.34m hectoliters for a value of €836m ($1.2bn). With an average price of €3.32 per litre, the Americans pay for more for a bottle than most other export destinations for Italian wine. The statistical average for all exports was €1.79.

In terms of sheer volume, the Germans remain the largest market, with 5.7m hl, but with an average price of only €1.10 per litre. The United Kingdom is the 3rd largest market with 2m hl worth €426.6m.

Interestingly, France with 1.2 m hl is the fourth largest export market for Italian wines, but with an average price of only 0.59 per litre. It is clear that most of this is being imported in bulk to blend into pan European wines sold with a French moniker.

Japan with 3.56 pays the highest average price.

Total exports are expected to reach 18.94m hl, up 14.2%. Only 1.37m of this is quality wine.