Piedmont CIA Worried About Export Crisis
Staff Writer - June 20, 2004
Turin, Italy – The Sub-Alpine chapter of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA , or "Confederation of Italian Farmers") is sounding the alarm for Piedmont producers because of the current wine exports crisis. According to the Confederation, in the first half of the year, regional wine exports fell by 6.6 per cent in volume and by 13.4 per cent in value. The report found that exports of wine sold in bulk have actually increased, while bottled wine exports fell by 11 per cent in volume.
In the various markets worldwide, the Confederation found that sales in Germany have increased an 8.2 per cent, whereas they have fallen in the United States, dropping by 30 per cent in the last six months.  These data are just the opposite of the national trend, as Italian wine exports to the United States increased 10.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2004.
The concern is, mostly, for Piedmont producers specializing in quality DOC and DOCG bottled wines.
"This segment of the wine producing market is suffering more than the others today. This is especially due to the rise in competition from new wine producing countries, which are capable of producing quality wine at lower prices," according to the Confederation.
To the Piedmont CIA chapter, it is now clear that export volumes depend on quality wine being sold at lower prices.
"Foreign markets, as well as domestic ones, are no longer capable of absorbing further price increases," concluded the Confederation.
| 
