Brazil's role in the World Wine Market – Panorama 2011

On the international scene, Brazilian winemaking occupied, in 2009, 19th place in area cultivated with grapes and 14th in production, according to FAO data. With regard to international transactions, data from the same source reveal Brazil's following positions: 17th in terms of quantity of grapes exported; 13th in value of grape exports; 10th largest exporter of grape juice in quantity; 9th in value of grape juice exports; 21st exporter of wines in quantity and 45th in exported value of wines.

Below, information is presented on exports, imports and trade balance in the national wine sector.

Brazilian exports from the wine sector totaled US$2011 million in 155,70, 4,97% higher than in 2010 (Table 1). Table grape exports stood at 59.391 tonnes, 2,32% lower than the previous year. There was an increase in grape juice exports (43,70% in quantity and 95,53% in value), but they are still lower than those seen in 2009.

Wines, which, in 2009, performed well in terms of exported volume, due to the Federal Government's Production Outflow Award – PEP, suffered a decline in consecutive years. In 2011, the quantity exported was reduced by 5,15%, however in terms of export value there was a significant increase (57,51%).

Sparkling wines, in smaller volume, showed a reduction of 65,00% in quantity and 57,45% in exported value.

Imports of table grapes have been growing in recent years. In 2011, they grew 37,46% in quantity and 42,40% in value (Table 1). With regard to raisins, there was a 6,27% reduction in the quantity imported, and a 21,67% increase in value, in 2011. Practically all raisins consumed in the country are imported. In the wine segment, the growing trend of imports continued. In 2011, import growth was lower than that seen in 2010. 72,70 million liters of wine were imported, worth 262,06 million dollars, in 2011, which represents an increase of 2,78% in imported quantity and 17,47% in the value of exports, compared to the previous year. There was also growth in imports of sparkling wines in 2011: 14,11% in quantity and 16,61 in value. Imports of grape juice are occasional.

The trade balance of the national wine sector is presented in table 1. In 2011, the country presented a deficit of 252.174 million dollars, 33,10% higher than in 2010. There was an increase in the value of imports of all items. There was a reduction in the value of exports of fresh grapes and sparkling wines.

Table 2 presents a summary of the fine wine market in the country. Imported table wines were considered, which are equivalent to Brazilian fine table wines, fine wines sold by Rio Grande do Sul, an estimate of fine wines produced and sold by the states of Bahia, Pernambuco and Santa Catarina, deducting exports. The market size of this wine segment is equivalent to almost 100 million liters. During the year 2011, in relation to the previous year.

In 2011, imported wines represented 75,34% of fine table wines sold in Brazil.