(Esmmagazine) - Italian wine exports grew by 7% in 2017, reaching a record high of around €6 billion, according to farmers' association Coldiretti.

The figures indicate that there was growth in both value and volume of wine exports, despite a poor harvest that resulted in a 26% drop in production compared to the previous year.

However, Italy is still the world's leading producer of wine, ahead of France, generating about 40 million hl annually.

In terms of exports, the US is the main consumer of Italian wines, with sales growing by 6% in value last year. This is followed by Germany (+3%) and the UK (+8%).

The highest level of growth last year was achieved in Russia (+47%), while China saw growth of 25%, although the presence of Italian wine in these markets remains limited compared to French competitors.