OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus' OAO Minsk Sparkling Wines Plant reported a 45.1% decrease in wine production in January-July 2014 to 411,000 decalitres, a source in the administration of the company told.

Still grape wine production reached 11,000 decalitres, down 3.9 times year on year. The winery's total output reduced 46.7% on the year in Jan-Jul 2014 to 422,000 decalitres.

Last year Belarusian retailers accumulated large inventories of sparkling wines. Inventories grew even larger after the New Year, when consumer demand started to wane, which caused the company to reduce output, a senior staff representative told. In spring the company started to increase output hoping things will get back to normal by the end of the year.

In April 2014 the company shipped 47,000 dal of sparkling wine, May - 65,000 dal, July 83,000 dal.

Minsk Sparkling Wines Plant was established in 1978; it makes 80 varieties of beverages; annual output is estimated at 12 million bottles.

The company's output totalled Br135.651 billion (USD 13.094 million) in Jan-Jul 2014, to compare with Br232.714 billion in Jan-Jul 2013.