SA wine exports are stabilizing after three rough years.

According to the year’s exports, South Africa’s wine industry is recovering after three difficult years marred by drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Maryna Calow, communications manager of Wines of SA (Wosa), which markets South Africa’s wine exports, the sector is still normalizing rather than growing.

“We are likely to recover our export figures and end the year on a closer to average volume level of between 390 million and 400 million litres, depending on December exports.

We feel positive that we can start seeing the industry grow again,” says Calow. “It is, however, important to keep in mind that the increase in export volumes we have seen this year compared to last year, is still just part of the normalization of the industry.”

SA exported approximately 420 million litres of wine in 2018. Due to the effects of the drought, this fell to 320 million litres in 2019.

The export volume remained stable in 2020 (319 million litres), owing to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly on the restaurant and holiday trade.

Calow, on the other hand, believes there are reasons to be optimistic. “What is also heartening, is to see the value growth in our exports despite the fact that we started the year with a large surplus,” she says.

Story by : Norvisi Mawunyegah