Fed: Domestic wine sales down third consecutive month: ABS

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Fed: Domestic wine sales down third consecutive month: ABS

New figures show domestic wine sales fell for the third consecutive month in October.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says sales slipped 1.6 per cent to 33 million litres,although they were still 1.8 per cent up on October last year.

The fall was due to a 2.2 per cent drop in white wine sales which hit 16.3 millionlitres, 4.1 per cent down on 2001.

Red and rose wine sales improved 0.8 per cent to 11.8 million litres, more than 10per cent up on October last year.

The bureau reports a 56.9 per cent increase in wine imports -- but a spokesman saysthis is due to an Australian wine producer being forced to re-import some of its own product.

The figure will be revised next month.

Wine exports slipped 12.6 per cent to 46.4 million litres, worth $222 million.

AAP RTV sw/dl/jmt

KEYWORD: WINE (CANBERRA)