Ouzo and tsipouro ‘get drunk’ international markets (graphs)

The € 100m barrier was broken by exports to alcoholic beverages in 2024, which were increased both in value (+7.9%) and in quantity (+1.5%) compared to 2023.

Representing 56% of value and 69% of the quantity of total exports of Greek spirits, ouzo remains the great protagonist of the Greek distillery.

For where the alcoholic drinks fly

From the temporary Eurostat data, processed by the CEOOO, Germany appears firmly in the first place, as the main country of destination of Greek alcoholic beverages, with 35% in value (€ 40.1 million) and 43.5% in quantity (16 million kg) but a decrease in 205% and a decrease of 205% by 205.75%. exported quantities by -2.73%.

The second most important destination for Greek alcoholic beverages is Iraq, with an export of € 15.2 million and a quantity of 5.8 million kg. Following the fall of the Iraqi market in 2023, due to the law on the ban on importing and selling alcoholic beverages, it appears to be gradually coming back to previous years.

Both value and quantity increased in 2024 compared to 2023. In particular, the amount of Greek alcoholic beverages to Iraq increased by +4.6% and value by +3.8%.

The Bulgarian market is steadily continuing its upward trend and is, as it evolves, as a major export destination for Greek distillates is evolving. In 2024, compared to 2023 there is an increase of +4.9%.

Ouzo or tsipouro

Ouzo has been the big protagonist of the extroversion of the Greek distillery over time, occupying 2024 56 % of value and 69 % of the quantity of all exports of Greek distilleries.

In 2024 there is a total increase in the value of ouzo exports from € 61.1 million to € 2023 to € 64.3 million, which translates to +5.2% with a corresponding increase and the exported quantity by ≈2.4% (from 24.8 million kgg to 2023 to 25.4 million kg.

Exports within the EU -27 in 2024 maintain their stability and show a slight increase in value of +2.3%, and a decrease of -1.6%, compared to 2023.

Germany appears firmly in the first place as the main country of destination of ouzo, with 43.5% in value (€ 28 million) and 48.2% in quantity (12.2 million kg) but there is a slight decline in its performance in 2024 against 2023 in value and in quantity. In recent years, the Bulgarian market has been steady upward and is the 2nd most important export destination of ouzo at the EU level.

In 2024, against 2023 there is an increase in value by +25.4% (10 million € /2024 versus 8 million € /2023) and in a quantity of +20.2% (3.2 million kg /2024 from 2.7 million kg /2023). The decline of intra -Community traditions in both value and quantity are the sizes for the Netherlands, Belgian and France market.

Exports outside the EU-27s appear to recover (after the fall they showed in 2023) recording an increase in value and in quantity. In particular, the percentage increase in value is +11.7% and in quantity +12.8%.

This positive change is mainly attributed to Iraq, the 2nd export destination of ouzo, to which ouzo exports gradually reaches € 15.1 million (+6%) and 5.8 million kg (+7%). The US, FYROM, Israeli, Australia market marks a positive sign in 2024.

Exports of tsipouro/tsikoudia, although representing a very small share (≈2% in value and ≈1% in quantity) of all exports, have risen in the last five years.

In particular, in 2024 compared to 2023, exports within the EU -27 showed an increase of ≈4.4 % to value while the exported quantities declined by -2.1 %. As far as third countries are concerned, a remarkable increase in value of ≈25.5% and ≈12.8% in quantity.

By comparing the 5-year figures 2024-2020, we observe +79 % in value and +51.2 % in quantity, we understand that tsipouro has begun to be recognized and preferred both nationally and internationally, taking into account that exports to EU-27 Member States and third countries are rising.

Source: OT