(EngineeringNews) - South African wine exports reached 313-million litres in 2015 and are projected to grow by a further 13% in the next decade.

“Wine exports are up from 122-million litres in 2000 to 313-million litres in 2015. We are exporting to markets across the world and the bulk of our exports are destined for the European Union and the UK,” says Western Cape Economic Opportunities Minister Alan Winde.

He points out that exports to key markets in the rest of Africa, the US and China were also growing.

“As part of our Project Khulisa growth strategy, which runs until 2019, we have set ourselves the goal of boosting wine exports to strategic markets and the latest trends are excellent indicators.”

The South African wine industry involves 3 300 producers and supports employment for close on 300 000 people, directly and indirectly.

“The South African wine industry has formulated the Wine Industry Strategic Exercise which sets clear goals for the sector. This includes increasing jobs to 375 000 by 2025 and growing the value of wine tourism from R6-billion to R15-billion,” he says