Increasing production and exports for growth in Europe and in countries outside the EU. This is the trend of the spirits “Made in Italy” outlined by AssoDistil, the Italian association of industrial distillers, at the annual meeting.
“Although our industry is affected by the crisis – said Antonio Emaldi, president of the Association – but, thanks to the commitment of our companies, who have never stopped looking for new opportunities both in Italy and abroad, we have been able to sustain this difficult time. ” The data give reason to AssoDistil. A tow activity distilling in 2012 and the launch in 2013, it was the grappa, the famous Italian spirit, which has seen the rise in production volumes by 18%. Good performance of brandy (+14%), while they are stable fruit spirits.
And while the domestic market which clearly shows the signs of the crisis of consumption (-5%), exports proved to be the “new frontier” of Italian products, especially for the grappa. According to ISTAT data, in 2012 there was a growth in exports of 15% compared to last year.
The main importing Country continues to be Germany, which accounts for 62% of the exports of the product in the bottle. They are followed by France, Austria and the United States. Excellent results in exports in Eastern Europe, with sales growth in Estonia (+10%), Latvia (+24%), Slovakia (+13%) and Albania (+64%). In Russia, even where there has been a boom of the distillate most loved by Italians, there was an increase of 27%. But the big surprise came from the East, thanks to exports to Thailand (+60%), the Philippines (+40%), Japan (+20%) and Taiwan (+76%).
“Thanks to the export – said the president Emaldi – we have seen an increase in the competitiveness of our small businesses, mostly family-run. The grappa manages to carve out new spaces even in Countries which, in addition to being consumers, are also producers and this is illustrative of the high standard of quality achieved. “
The leader of the distillers has also drawn attention to the ongoing discussion on the reform of the EU wine. “We are for liberalization, but on condition that they should create conditions of fair competition between Member States and that, on such conditions, supervision and communal, not just national. For these reasons, as well as in the interest of all those who work according to the rules, we propose a control system more rigid. “
In the future CMO will also reiterated support for the distillation of the products of winemaking. “The system of contributions to the distillery was felt by the entire wine industry an essential tool for environmental compliance and to ensure the quality of the wines” noted the number one AssoDistil. ” The withdrawal of by-products, employed in distilling, prevents fact that they would be used for adulteration under wine.
“We are pleased – said Emaldi – that institutions consider the case of an efficient mechanism from a logistical point of view and cheap, which makes possible an essential service to the producers in terms of timeliness in the withdrawal of millions of tons of by-products, avoiding the same should be met abnormal fermentation during storage in the cellar to the detriment of wine. “
