The Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) has welcomed “positively” the entry into force this Friday, May 1, of the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, considering that it represents a decisive boost to expand the international presence of Spanish wine in a scenario marked by geopolitical and commercial uncertainty.
According to the organization’s statement, the implementation of the pact comes at a particularly delicate moment for the sector, which faces the need to attract new consumers and open alternative markets given the evolution of demand in traditional destinations and growing trade tensions in other strategic countries.
In this context, Spanish wineries consider that the understanding with Mercosur, and particularly with Brazil, represents an “opportunity” due to its high growth potential, still little exploited by Spanish wine despite the size and dynamism of this market.
The general director of the FEV, José Luis Benítez, has stressed that “market diversification is a strategic priority for Spanish wineries and the agreement with Mercosur allows us to advance in that direction and get closer to consumers with whom, moreover, we share strong cultural and historical ties and countries where wine is not an unknown product”.
Benítez has also emphasized that “anything that supports internationalization through clear and unhindered trade rules is a great benefit for the sector.” “We have already seen it in Mexico or Canada, among many other examples, and we think this will not be an exception,” he added.
From the FEV it is expected that the provisional application of the agreement generates immediate and measurable effects for the Spanish wine sector, especially thanks to the gradual elimination of the 18% tariffs in Brazil and 35% in Argentina, which until now had curbed the competitiveness of Spanish exports to these destinations.
Likewise, the sector favorably values the reduction of other technical and administrative hurdles that complicated access to these markets. In the case of Brazil, the main importer of European wine within Mercosur and one of the destinations with the greatest projection for Spain, high tariffs and demanding import requirements have historically limited the expansion of Spanish wineries.
With this new commercial framework, wine companies are confident they can compete on more balanced terms and consolidate a stronger presence for Spanish wine in a market of over 200 million consumers, characterized by a growing middle class.
The latest export records to Brazil before the agreement came into force already place this country closing the group of the top 20 destinations for Spanish wine, with an 11% increase in value year-on-year to February compared to the previous 12 months and a total exported of 25 million euros.
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