Foto: SSG	Ampliar

Cava producers sold 88 million bottles in Spain in 2009, a decrease of 0.9% with regard to 2008. Sales in the foreign market were 131 million bottles, 5.5% less than in 2008. Total sales of cava during 2009 were 219 million bottles, a 3.7% decrease when compared to 2008.


Gustavo Garcia Guillamet, Chairman of the Cava Regulatory Board, explained that the internal market "showed better figures in the last quarter of the year, specially during the Christmas season, whose final results allowed us to almost keep the same figures as in the previous year".

Regarding shipments to foreign markets, Garcia Guillamet highlighted that the figures "represent a drop when compared with 2008, but if we exclude the data from Germany, sales in the rest of foreign markets show a growth of 10% in 2009".

The chairman of the Cava Regulatory Board also said that the figures announced today "prove once again the consolidation of cava consumption and its strengh".

More cava in United Kingdom, USA, Belgium and France.

Cava sales in the international market during the last ten years grew from 97 to 131 milllion bottles. Sales within the European Union were 98 million bottles in 2009, a 75% of the whole foreign market.

Germany is, one more year, the main importer of cava, with 34 million bottles, although this figure has reduced 32% when compared to 2008. "In spite of this decrease, we are confident that the German market is a great consumer of high quality sparkling wines and our exports to this country will go back to normal, recovering figures seen in previous years", said the chairman of the Cava Regulatory Board.

United Kingdom is the second largest importer of cava, with more than 32 million bottles and an increase of 7.79%. Belgium ousted United States in 2009 as the third largest importer of cava, with an increase of 57% and more than 15 milllion bottles, while USA ended fourth with 14 million bottles, which means an increase of 2.26%. Japan is fifth among the largest importers of cava, with more than 4 million bottles and a decrease of 23.53% with regard to 2008. Switzerland keeps the sixth place with more than 3 million bottles and an increase in sales of 13.18%.

France raises up to the seventh place with an increase of 40% and more than 3 millon bottles. "These figures show the growth potential of cava in internacional markets. Our wine is the first among Spanish DO products by exports", added Garcia Guillamet.