Various challenges facing the South Africa’s wine industry are causing the wine farmer numbers to shrink.
South African wine producers are facing bruising market headwinds, battered by low-cost competitor products, low domestic rainfall, stagnant prices and cost inflation.
According to industry body VinPro, only around 44% farmers are operating at breakeven level and 40% are making a loss.
The total number of grape producers and areas under vineyard has, meanwhile, declined from 3?232 to 3 139 and from 98 596ha to 96 753ha respectively, with subsequent job losses.
