Although exports of all European alcoholic beverages decreased in 2023 by 7% compared to 2022, the Greek distillery/spirits sector stood out, with exports rising by 9.4%, surpassing the €100 million mark, driven by the undeniable quality of Greek alcoholic beverages, which seems to be responded to internationally.
According to the preliminary data of EUROSTAT, which was processed by SEAOP (ASSOCIATION OF GREEK PRODUCERS OF DISTILLED SPIRITS & ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES-SEAOP), in 2023 the export activity of Greek alcoholic beverages will be further strengthened and will far exceed the pre-pandemic levels in value.
In particular, compared to 2022, there was an overall increase (within the EU 27 & to third countries) in value by 9.4% (+€9.12 million in absolute terms). In contrast to the total value, exports in kg quantity of Greek alcoholic beverages show a decline, recording a decrease of -5.02% (-2 million kg in absolute terms). The average unit price per exported kilogram of beverages is also increasing in 2023, where it shows an increase of 15.2%. Compared to the last 5 years (2023 vs 2019) the sector of Greek production of alcoholic beverages, records a long-term increase in exports, in value by +39.3%, but also in quantity by +5.2%.
DESTINATIONS OF GREEK EXPORTS
As far as export destinations are concerned, according to the data, the EU-27 Member States are consistently the most important destinations for Greek spirits, with a 76% share in value (€80.7 million) and 78% in quantity (28.4 million kilos).
According to further analysis of ELSTAT data, exports within the EU-27 of the Greek distillery sector in 2023 compared to 2022, show a significant increase in value of ≈10 million € (13.7% in percentage terms), while in terms of quantity there is a slight decrease of -0.2 million kg (0.7% in percentage terms). With regard to exports outside the EU-27, there is a decrease both in value € and in quantity kg.
In particular, -2.3 in value (from € 26 million in 2022 to € 25.4 million in 2023) and -18 % in quantity (from 9.5 million kg in 2022 to 7.8 million kg in 2023).
Germany is consistently in first place as the main export country for Greek alcoholic beverages, as 40% in value (€42.5 million) and 45.4% in quantity (16.5 million kg) of the Greek beverage industry is exported to Germany.
The second most important country of destination for Greek spirits is still (despite the decline) Iraq with an export value of €14.6 million and a quantity of 5.6 million kg.
The list of the main exporting countries is followed by Bulgaria with € 10 million (+25.7% increase in value), the Netherlands with € 5 million (+98% increase in value), Austria with € 3.8 million (+194% increase in value), Poland with € 3.7 million (-4.1% decrease in value) from the EU-27 and Albania with € 3.7 million (-4.1% decrease in value).
OUZO - TSIPOURO
Greek ouzo is the major protagonist and is at the top in terms of exports of Greek alcoholic beverages. Although it has to compete with similar drinks from countries such as Italy, Spain, France, etc., it has established itself internationally due to its high quality. It has been the main export product of the Greek distillery over time, accounting for 58 % of the value and 68 % of the quantity of all Greek spirits exports in the last year (2023).
In 2023 there is an increase in the value of ouzo exports internationally, which in percentage terms translates into an increase of ≈4% (+2.3 million €), while in terms of quantity it shows a decrease of -7.3% (almost -2 million kg).
Exports of ouzo within the EU-27 in 2023 show a significant increase in value by 13.5%, while in quantity they show a decrease by -1.8%, compared to 2022. In contrast to the EU, its exports to third countries show a large decrease in both value and quantity, which is due to a decrease in exports to Iraq. In particular, the percentage decrease in value is ≈-13% and the percentage decrease in quantity ≈-19%.
As regards the most important ouzo exporting countries, Germany is in first place with 46.5% of the total in value and 50.8% in quantity, followed by Iraq with 23.3% in value and 21.9% in quantity and Bulgaria in third place with 13% in value and 10.7% in quantity.
Exports of tsipouro/chicudia, although representing a very small share (≈2% in value terms), account for a very large proportion of the total value of exports.
