Wines

Portugal, because of its climate and soil conditions is a wine producer par excellence. The characteristics and qualities of its wine are unique and recognized worldwide. Wines produced in Portugal vary according to regions and grape varieties. In fact, there are a myriad of genuinely Portuguese varieties.

That’s why, from north to south, Portugal has such a wide range of wines to offer - from its Vinho Verde Wine, so deliciously refreshing, to its Port Wine, the most full-bodied in the world, and quality table wines, produced in demarcated regions.
Wine plays a fundamental role in the Portuguese economy. Together with large wine-producing countries such as France, Spain, Italy and Germany, Portugal is one of the major wine exporters. Jointly, these five countries account for 71% of the global wine market. Of note is the fact that, among them, Portugal is the one dedicating the most amount of agricultural land to winegrowing (some 9%). In 2000, wine production came to more than 6 million hectoliters.

According to European Commission data, in 1996 Portugal had 367,000 farming estates - most of them small ones – primarily producing wine. Winegrowing in Portugal is characterized by a sizeable number of smallholdings. About half occupy less than 2 hectares.

Three types of producers essentially carry out the business of producing and marketing wines in Portugal: small producers and individual entrepreneurs/, medium and large producers/ and cooperative wine lodges.

Over the years, Portugal has seen a substantial improvement in quality. This has been brought about by heavy investment. That means it currently employs state-of-the-art technology allied to first-class wine-production methods.

Statistics for Portuguese wine exports point to 2 million hectoliters for 2000. Of the total sold abroad, 44% covers Quality Fortified Wine produced in a Demarcated Region, 13% covers Quality Wine produced in a Demarcated Region, and 43% of Table Wine from non-specified regions and Regional Wines. With regard to Fortified Wine, we would mention that Port Wine accounts for 95% and Madeira Wine, only 4%.
We would also mention that Port Wine is of major importance when it comes to Portuguese wine exports.

The main export markets, in 2000, in terms of volume, excluding Port Wine and Madeira Wine, were Spain (300,000 hls) and Angola (100,000 hls), followed by France, UK, Germany, Brazil, US, Sweden, Denmark and Canada.
France imports the most Port Wine (300,000 hectoliters), followed by the Netherlands with 150,000 hectoliters. Other countries importing this range of wine were, in descending order, Belgium/Luxemburg, UK, Germany, and US.
The major buyers of Madeira Wine were, for the period under review, France with 15,000 hls and Germany with 5,000 hls.

Beverages

The Fruit Juice and Soft Drinks industry is divided into two major business sectors: one for Fruit Juice and Nectars and the other for Soft Drinks in general. Each, in its turn, is subdivided into various segments. Firstly, into 100% Juices and Nectars, and secondly into Colas, Lime-Lemon, Still (Juice) Soft Drinks, Iced Teas, Flavored Soft Drinks and Others (Tonic, Ginger-Ale, Mixers). Each segment is then split into different families
Portuguese companies operate in the Beverages and Soft Drinks sector simultaneously with various foreign brands. Sometimes direct, through branches or commercial representation. Others operate indirect, under license. Exclusively national groups also operate in the marketplace. In particular, the group of companies in the Sector fundamentally dedicated to manufacturing Soft Drinks with Distributor or "Price-First" brands. Not selling familiar brands, they compete on the price factor.

The production of Juices and Soft Drinks in 1998 reached a volume of 534 million liters, of which 72 million liters relate to Juices and Nectars, and 462 million liters to Soft Drinks.

From 1994 to 1999, the Juices and Soft Drinks Sector’s balance of trade was negative, with imports growing at a higher rate than exports. Imports, both Juices and Nectars, as well as Soft Drinks, for the period under review, accounted for a substantial part of supply to the national market. They showed a significant penetration of the market not offset by exports, although they also grew at an increasing rate, especially in the case of 100% Juices.

The main destinations for Juice and Nectar exports were, throughout the same period, Portuguese-speaking African countries. It should however be noted that sales made to Spain, were likewise sizeable in volume. The total exported came to 6 million liters.
As to Soft Drinks, exports came to 20 million liters, mostly to Angola, which accounted for 45% of the total for the period mentioned.