Moldova to produce less wine in 2018 than in 2017

Chisinau, 23 August /MOLDPRES/ – From the grapes harvested in 2018, a volume of 15 – 17 mln decalitres of wine will be produced, according to forecasts. The data was presented today at a national conference by the head of the National Office of Vine and Wine, Gheorghe Arpentin.

Thus, the wine quantity produced in 2018 will be lower than in 2017, when there were made about 18 million decalitres of wine. Even so, the amount of wine produced this year will be 15 per cent higher than the average of recent eight years.

In 2017, there were delivered 57 million bottles of Moldovan wine throughout Moldova. Totally, there were exported over 14 million decaliters of wine, worth MDL 2.34 billion. The price of one litre of wine for export was up 6 per cent.

The main markets for Moldovan wines are Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Russia and China. "For the first time, Romania has become the most important market where we earn the most money. Out of total turnover, 15 per cent of the value is created in Romania," said Gheorghe Arpentin. Poland is ranked second, followed by Czech Republic, China and Russia.

Head of the Service of policy and regulations in the wine and beverage products sector of the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Liliana Dascaliuc, said the global grape harvest in 2018 would reach 680,000 tons. Almost 320,000 tonnes of these will be directed to processing.

Based on the estimated costs, the purchase prices for European sorts of grapes will be at least 4.5 lei/kg, and Isabella varieties – at least 2.75 lei/kg, said Liliana Dascaliuc.

The global grape harvest in 2017 was 675 thousand tons, and 616 thousand tons in 2016.

(Reporter N. Sandu, editor A. Raileanu)