In the first nine months of 2007, Slovakia imported 432,100 hectolitres (hl) of wine, valued at Sk954.2 million. Wine imports rose 84.4 percent from the same period of 2006, when Slovakia imported 234,300 hl of wine for Sk708.5 million.
The Agrarian Market Information of Slovakia (ATIS) report shows that in September alone, wine import decreased by 8.7 percent compared with the same month of last year. From January to September of 2007, Slovakia reported a negative balance of Sk680 million in wine trade. From January-September, Slovak wine exports reached 102,800 hl, worth Sk274.2 million, of which 72.5 percent was shipped to the Czech Republic, representing 74,500 hl for Sk182.7 million. Slovakia exported 28,800 hl of wine to Hungary for Sk68.4 million, and also exported smaller volumes to Poland and Italy.
In the 47th and 48th weeks of last year, wine prices showed falling in comparison with prices in the 43rd and 44th weeks. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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