2023 saw a sharp contraction in global production of wine and a slowdown in international trade, with Italy having accumulated record reserves, reaching 51 million hectoliters by July.
On the front of export, the first nine months of 2023 showed substantial stability in volumes sent across borders compared to a slight drop in values (-2%), with a growth in the weight of bulk products to the detriment of bottled ones. They also brake sparkling with -3% in volume and +2,5% in value. Internal demand for domestic consumption shows a decline in quantities purchased of 3,1%. Still wines are more penalized (-4%) compared to bubbles, which are above last year's volumes (+1%).
Among the major producers, Italy is the only country that has not suffered reductions in the quantities shipped abroad: la Spain lost approximately 4% both in volume and value, while the France it reduced volumes by 8%, losing 1% in value. Things went worse for overseas partners: Chile, Argentina e Use showed declines of almost 30% in volume, while theAustralia it stopped at -8%.
Footwear: in the nine months of 2023 exports and turnover will grow, but volumes will decline
Il footwear sector Italian scores one limited growth in the first nine months of 2023, recording, compared to the same period of the previous year, an increase in both turnover (+3%) and exports in value (+3,2%). This is what was reported by Assocalzaturifici Research Centre, which however notes a drop in volumes. After the recoveries of the previous two years, the pairs sold abroad return to negative (-8,7%) as well as on the Italian market (-3,1%), with the Istat industrial production index down by -7,4%. The setback in the third quarter weighs heavily, as it closed with -7,2% in foreign sales in value (-12,3% in quantity) and with -1,5% in spending by Italian families.
New geographies for exports
The report shows how, among the main foreign markets, the EU ones reported the best performances: although they lost -6,1% in volume, they grew by 8,5% in value. Non-EU destinations show a heavier decline in quantity (-13,4%), accompanied by a negative sign also in value (-1,2%).
Next to the estate of France (approximately +1% in volume and +17,1% in value) the strong contraction (-32,4% in pairs and -22,5% in value) of direct flows in Switzerland. Sales to the United States worsened significantly in the third quarter (with drops of over -20%). Use (-21,7% in quantity and -7,4% in value) e Germany (-16,6% in pairs and stable in value). Good performances China (+17,2% in volume and +12,2% in value), despite a reduction in value in the third fraction. The restart continued Russia e Ukraine(+40% and +88% in value respectively on January-September 2022), although sales in these two markets still remain below the pre-war period.
On the national front, if 2023 saw an increase in tourist flows, with positive effects on the shopping of foreigners visiting the Bel Paese, purchases of footwear by Italian families showed a lackluster trend, closing the first 9 months with negative signs (both in pairs, -3,1%, and in spending, -1,3%).
