In its annual analysis and outlook for the industry, ABARE predicted wine grape output for this fiscal year would reach 1.56m metric tons, down 3.1% from the 1.61m tons registered in the year to the end of June 2002. Last year’s figure was 13% up on the previous year. ABARE said dry weather during 2002 was the cause of the first fall in wine grape production since 1996-97.
AUSTRALIA: ABARE predicts fall in wine grape output
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural & Resource Economics (ABARE) has forecast that wine grape production in Australia will fall by 3% this fiscal year. But will pick up in the two years following, assuming average seasonal conditions.