Australia’s wine exports grew in value and volume over the year ending March 2025, primarily due to a large increase in wine shipments to China.
Exports by value rose by 41% to A$2.64 billion that year, the highest since 2021, while average values increased by 33% to $4.09 per litre free on board. However, shipments to other markets across Asia, Europe, and the Americas declined, according to a report by Wine Australia.
“Despite a very positive headline export result driven by an exceptional full year’s trading back with China, stubbornly high global stock levels coupled with increasing economic uncertainty continues to negatively impact trade and consumer sentiment and is evident with continued softening of exports to other established and emerging markets around the world,” said Wine Australia’s general manager of marketing Paul Turale.
“As we all try to navigate and adapt to the unknown, risk mitigation is paramount. In the world of wine that means a strategy based on delivering market diversification, playing to our relative strengths, and capitalising on opportunities as they present.”
Wine exports to mainland China were up by 94 million litres to reach 96 million litres, and increased by over $1 billion in value to total $1.03 billion. China’s tariffs on Australian wine were removed in March 2024, allowing for significantly greater exports.
Exports to China also saw the highest average value among the top 10 largest markets, at $23 per litre. Shipments to Hong Kong posted the second highest value, at $18.72 per litre, while New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan’s average values were between $4-5 per litre.
Still red wine represented 93% of exports shipped to mainland China, by volume. Meanwhile, exports to the rest of Asia fell by 6% in volume and 27% in value.
Europe remained the largest region for Australian exports by volume, while the U.K. is its largest individual export market. However, exports to Europe and the U.K. declined by both volume and value across the year.
In North America, exports declined by volume in both the U.S. and Canada, though exports to Canada increased in value.
