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NEWS
Wine Association to be Set Up to Encourage Exports
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
Aiming to double wine exports to the US within three years,
20-30 wineries have joined to form the Israel Wine
Association, said Exports Institute Director Yechiel Asia. In
2005 wine exports to North America came to $7.5 million.
According to Asia the Wine Association, which was started
with the aid of the Israel Wine and Grape Council, will have
a budget of $1 million per year to be funded by the wineries,
the Trade and Commerce Ministry and the Agricultural
Ministry. The Export Institute will be responsible for
managing the Association, whose members will include wineries
such as Carmel, Golan Heights, Barkan, Binyamina, Efrat and
Tishbi.
Within five years the US market will have the world's highest
volume of wine sales, says Asia. With an annual growth rate
of 5 percent, the US wine market now consumes 296 million
crates per year or 12.5 liters (2.75 gallons) per person.
The Export Institute predicts that in 2006 worldwide wine
exports will grow by 5 percent to $14.5 million. Fifty-five
percent of Israeli wine exports go to the US, 35 percent to
the European Union and 10 percent to 30 countries on five
continents.
Wine and Grape Council figures show the tonnage has been
growing 10 percent annually and by 2010 will reach 60,000
tons of Israeli wine sold.
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