Macau, China, 26 March – Exports of Portuguese wines to Great China rose around 20 percent in 2006 to 1.7 million liters, according to the ICEP delegate in Macau, Manuel Geraldes.

Speaking to Portuguese news agency Lusa Friday, Geraldes said that wine exports to Macau posted an annual increase of 28 percent to 1.23 million liters, with the special administrative region (SAR) absorbing 71.75 percent of exports to Great China (Continental China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan).

In value, Portuguese wine exported to Macau reached US$4 million, or 17.5 percent more than in 2005.

“Portuguese wines thus continue to consolidate their presence in Macau, where they have a 62 percent share of the market,” said Geraldes, to highlight that wine imports in Macau posted a “strong rise throughout 2006 with growth of 33 percent in volume and 93.3 percent in value, against 2005.”

This increase in consumption was due to “great growth in tourist activity in Macau,” which in 2006 received a total of 21.99 million visitors and became the world casino capital.

To the Hong Kong market, “despite its 16th position in terms of global ranking,” Portugal saw its exports increase in volume by 26 percent to 76,000 liters and 50 percent in value. (macauhub)