ATHENS — Wine consumption in Greece fell more than 10 pct in 2019, the Agricultural Development and Foods ministry said in a report sent to the European Commission, analysed by the Central Cooperative Union of Wine Products.

More specifically, wine consumption in the country fell 10.88 pct in 2019, for an accumulated decline of 26.59 pct in the 2016-2019 period, compared with the previous three-year period. The Union noted that the decline in consumption in 2019 did not include any impact from the coronavirus pandemic and it was related with higher inventories, totaling 1,720,724 HL, up 17.88 pct compared with the previous year. Consumption data was also affected by a 6.75 pct increase in wine production in 2019. The report noted that wine imports grew 40 pct in value and 35 pct in volume in 2019, combined with a decline in exports (3.73 pct in value and 12.74 pct in volume).