Record Austrian wine exports in 2018

VIENNA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Austrian wine exports have increased 6.9 percent in 2018 to reach a record of 170.1 million euros (192.2 million U.S. dollars) in value, the Austrian wine Marketing Board stated on Wednesday.

The total volume of the exported wine grew 10.5 percent to reach 52.6 million litres -- the first time since 2010 that the 50 million-litre mark has been surpassed, the board said.

Germany remained the strongest export market for Austrian wine, though as exports to other markets have grown, its share of the total export volume drops to just below 50 percent.

Increases were also seen to other European Union (EU) member states, and consumption also increased domestically.

The total export share for countries outside of the EU meanwhile increased to almost 30 percent. Exports to Canada saw a large boost of 66 percent in wine volume and 62.6 percent in value, while the United States saw a 19.7 percent boost in wine volume and a 21.2 percent increase in value, according to the board.

Austria's wines are highly prized both by wine experts and wine lovers all around the world. Austria has seen a remarkable increase in total export value in recent years, thanks to the course Austria has chosen for the positioning of its wine as a high-value niche product in the hotly contested international market.