Chilean exports to the UK have shot up by over 25%, and show a similarly massive increase in value, the latest figures show.
Statistics released by the UK office of Wines of Chile show the volume of exports to the UK increased by 25.2% in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the same period last year.
The value of exports rose by 30.6% – a figure the Chileans are particularly excited about, Wines of Chile director Michael Cox told decanter.com.
‘It is very gratifying to see wines doing well at higher price points. One of our main objectives has always been to get the wine selling at higher prices.’
Cox compared Chile’s figures with Australia’s, whose export values are declining in terms of average dollar price.
‘When your values are decreasing that means heavyweight discounting and cheap prices because of oversupply. When they are increasing it shows there is a better mix of wines on the shelves,’ he said.
Year-on-year figures between 2002 and 2003 show the top-selling Chilean wineries in the UK are San Pedro, which showed a 65.1% increase in volume in 2003, Concha y Toro (40.9%), Cono Sur (22.6%) and Errazuriz (10.4%).
Written by Adam Lechmere
