Vinpro
SA’s wine industry expecting another major blow due to alcohol ban
Vinpro's Rico Basson estimates between 80 wineries and 350 grape producers may go out of business in the next 12 to 18 months.
Vinpro said that in addition to scores of people that had already been laid off from work as a result of COVID-19 regulations, an estimated 18,000 more jobs could be lost.
Vinpro's Rico Basson said the wine industry lost R200 million a week on exports due to the revised lockdown regulations; and that the move had huge financial repercussions on the sector.
Vinpro represents around 2,500 South African wine producers, cellars and industry stakeholders and has been at the forefront of talks with government since a lockdown was imposed from 27 March.
Wine sales in South Africa dropped by around 10 million bottles last year.
VinPro says early forecasts for 2017 show a similar result with more than a billion litres of wine expected.