Lisbon, July 7, 2025 (Lusa) - The National Association of Wine and Spirits Traders and Exporters (ANCEVE) warned on Monday that this year’s harvest is likely to present greater challenges than in 2024, describing a “perfect storm” of several factors that could impact yields.

“The 2025 harvest will most likely be even more dramatic than last year’s,” as notifications to winegrowers from traditional buyers announcing that they will purchase grapes from other suppliers this year already anticipate,‘"the association said in a statement, recalling that the 2024 harvest was "one of the most dramatic" ever in Portugal.

Despite growth in exports at the beginning of the year, the sector is currently experiencing the effects of an international crisis.

“The uncertainty in international trade caused by Donald Trump’s tariff policy, combined with falling wine consumption globally and anti-wine campaigns, has reversed the trend,” ANCEVE stressed.

In addition, it pointed out that the Vine and Wine Institute is “in a situation of uncertainty and paralysis as a result of the verbal dismissal of its Board of Directors last January”, and the authorities have yet to formalise that decision six months later.

The association said that the sector awaits consultation about this dismissal and the new team that may eventually be appointed, and looks forward to understanding the reasons for what it considers an “untimely decision by the government”.

ANCEVE has already requested an urgent meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries to discuss the current situation in the wine sector, the “dramatic outlook” for this year and the measures to adopt.

MPE/ADB // ADB.

Lusa