CIDER drinkers across the world will enjoy an extra 704 million pints a year by 2018, offering major export opportunities for producers in Britain and across the Midlands, according to industry bosses.

They made the prediction this week and are now travelling around the world promoting the drink.

Paul Bartlett, chairman of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) was a keynote speaker at a sellout conference in Chicago recently.

He said: “The cider market, both at home and abroad, has grown dramatically over the last 10 years and over the next decade we will see another massive increase in the global consumption of cider.

“This is being fuelled by a number of factors. In some markets - such as the USA - consumers are rediscovering cider. There is a growing appreciation from US consumers of cider and recognition that there is an authentic American cider heritage.

“British producers, such as Aspall, Thatchers and Westons, are driving this cider renaissance forward by investing in this market and expanding the export of their product.

“In other countries, an increase in the popularity of cider can be put down to the growth of fledging cider makers and the investment of UK producers to inform and educate consumers.

“British cider-makers have led the way by demonstrating the positive impact which innovation and investment can have on the market and cider-makers in other countries are now following suit and grasping at that opportunity.”

The UK already produces half the cider in the world and experts predict the UK market alone will grow by 119 million pints a year by 2018.

The potential value to the UK economy was highlighted when a cider business, Aston Manor, was the only drinks producer invited on the ever UK trade delegation when David Cameron led UK business bosses to China in December.

Gordon Johncox, managing director of Aston Manor Cider, said: “Without question, China represents an enormous market of great potential. The contact established on the trip is already helping us explore how to sell into that market.”

NACM figures show British cider-makers currently produce half of all cider in the world.

Mr Bartlett said: “The UK market will continue to grow and it remains vital to producers, though increasingly they will also look overseas to be able to expand their businesses.

“There is increasing demand and opportunity for the export of British cider and that is something to be celebrated.

“Cider-makers big and small across the UK are looking to overseas markets to achieve growth over the next few years and many are already achieving great success.”

Henry Chevallier Guild, partner at Aspall Cider, said his family business has been working on the export of their traditional cider for a number of years.

He said: “We have recently seen our hard work on exporting our cider pay off after our product was stocked in various bars and restaurants across the US.

“Exports are a key part of our business strategy, as they will be for most other cider-makers.”

The research shows that Argentina will lead the way for growth over the next four years with incremental growth of 167 million pints of cider. Argentina is followed by Australia, which will consume 149 million more pints and South Africa, which will consume 123 million extra pints.

Mr Bartlett said: “While the biggest growth for cider will take place in countries like Argentina, the opportunity for growth in the UK should not be underestimated.

“The UK market is predicted to grow by 17 per cent, with Brits consuming an extra 120 million pints a year by 2018, making cider an even bigger British success story.

”Of course, much of this success depends on the support of the Government and its decisions on alcohol duty and policy over the next couple of years.

“As ever, the prosperity of the UK cider industry depends on Government support, in particular ensuring stability on duty to enable producers to make investment decisions that are measured in decades.”