“In April wine export was equal to 19 million bottles which has increased by 180% as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.”
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili made the following statement at his meeting with the media on 4 June 2014: “In April wine export was equal to 19 million bottles which has increased by 180% as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.”
FactCheckwondered about the accuracy of the facts stated in the Prime Minister’s statement.
According to the information published on the web site of the National Wine Agency of Georgia, wine export to 26 countries in the period of January-April 2014 was equal to 18,965,119 bottles (volume: 0.75 l) which has increased by 180% as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
According to the data from April 2014, USD 62,173,917 worth of product was exported in terms of monetary unit which is 215% more than the indicator from the corresponding period in 2013.
The top five markets for Georgian wine export markets are as follows: Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Poland and Latvia. Russia’s share of the total export volume is equal to 70.2%. 13,313, 742 bottles (volume: 0.75 l) of Georgian wine were exported to Russia in April 2014.
For further information FactChecksearched for the indicator of wine export in 2013. According to the data of the National Wine Agency, 46,747,785 bottles (volume: 0.75 l) of Georgian wine were exported in total in 2013 which is 100% more than the same indicator from the corresponding period in the previous year.
In terms of monetary unit, USD 141,730,292 worth of wine was exported in 2013 which is 97% more than the same indicator in the previous year. Russia’s share of total wine export was 49% (Georgia has step-by-step resumed wine export to Russia since June 2013 after a seven-year gap).
Previously, FactCheckhas written about the increase in wine export in the period of January-November 2013.
Conclusion According to the National Wine Agency of Georgia, approximately 19 million (volume: 0.75 l) bottles of Georgian wine were exported as of January-April 2014 which is 180% more than the same indicator in the previous year. Therefore, Irakli Gharibashvili’s statement,“In April wine export was equal to 19 million bottles which has increased by 180% as compared to the corresponding period in previous year,” is TRUE.
Originally published in The Financial, issue N. 28 (408)
