Why is it difficult for Crimean winemakers to start supplies to China?
China is such a large market for winemakers that almost any product will find a consumer there. Shanghai alone, where the international exhibition “ProWine China-2023” was held, has 40 million inhabitants.
Ksenia Slutskaya, director of the Southern Regional Export Support Center, announced this on Radio Crimea, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“They were interested in our liqueurs. Because the trend in China is really not just about the classic segment. This is something youthful, something in small bottles, berry-fruit flavor, light. The goal is not to get as out of order as possible in a short period of time - the goal is to socialize over a tasty drink that will slightly improve your mood. In principle, they are looking for a product just under this category.
Of course, traditionally the Chinese market is red wine, and Crimea has very good red wine, which was noted not only by Chinese potential partners. Our stand was visited by many other countries - France, Chile, Italy. But the position remains unchanged - this is dry red wine. There was a demand for semi-sweet and sparkling wine. Indeed, our producer of champagne, which in China is associated with the Soviet Union, is of interest,” Slutskaya emphasized.
However, breaking into the Chinese market is a long and tedious bureaucratic procedure that requires time and patience.
“The real proposals came from China. 80% of visitors were Chinese potential partners. We had different companies - some came for the first time, others were already working through issues. This is the fourth time for one company – I especially emphasize this because everyone is talking about the speed of concluding contracts.
To enter the Chinese market, the owner personally traveled to China four times for negotiations, and this was his fourth time. Now the company will register with the PRC customs to obtain an exporter number, and this will be the first company. We hope that there will be a contract in January-February.
Everyone has their own philosophy. Some people think that a trial batch or a container is already an export. The head of this company is determined that when up to half of his volume goes to China, then this is an entry into the market,” said the head of the export support center.
Crimean producers were unable to analyze consumer demand at the exhibition, because visitors were interested in different products.
“Some people come up and say: the market for cheap wine in China is oversaturated, give us expensive wine. The next one comes up and says: no, we are bloggers, we need affordable wine. And this is a separate conversation, as at the exhibition, through 2-3 stands, the work of streamers and bloggers was actively going on. And at this moment, sales increase on average 10 times, because in China alcohol is sold on electronic platforms.
We met one such blogger. She works with Russian companies, and they observed the whole process with their own eyes - they just spent hours at the stand, they showed this bottle, they tried it, and so on. And this is a real increase in sales.
Someone says: we need premium wine for the ferret segment for restaurants, for gifts. It is very difficult to single out any system for China. There are a huge number of requests,” Slutskaya emphasized.
She added that wine culture in China is special, eventful and gift-giving. The popularity of wine is gaining momentum against the background of beer, which is more familiar to the Chinese. And the hour is not far off when wine ceremonies will be added to Chinese tea ceremonies.
“As we always say, Crimean wine is only available in Crimea, and because of this, God himself ordered to sell and promote what is our calling card,” concluded the head of the export center.
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