Total Australian wine exports increased in value by 17 per cent to $2.2 billion in 2023–24, the highest level since the 12 months ended September 2021, according to a new Wine Australia Export Report.
The growth in value was due to a surge in exports to mainland China in the last three months of the financial year, as Australian wine re-stocked supply pipelines following the removal of the duties on Australian bottled wine in late March 2024.
Volume also saw positives in the report, as it remained relatively steady at 619 million litres.
Wine Australia manager of Market Insights, Peter Bailey, said that the rise in exports to mainland China is still a small fraction of the historical peaks achieved to the market.
“The surge in exports to mainland China towards the end of the financial year saw volume rise from 1 million litres to 33 million litres and value grow by $392 million to $400 million compared to last financial year,” said Bailey.
“While the figures are very positive, they represent the re–stocking of Australian wine in the pipeline of a major market after a long absence and do not necessarily equate to retail sales. It will take some time before there is a clearer picture of how Chinese consumers are responding to the increased availability of Australian wine in-market.”
There were 574 companies exporting to mainland China in 2023–24, up from 115 in 2022–23.
Prior to the imposition of duties, there were more than 2,000 companies exporting to mainland China.
In 2023–24, the top ten exporters by value to the market accounted for three–quarters of the total value and 39 per cent of the volume of exports.
Exports of wine priced at $20 or more per litre FOB, which roughly translates to 300 RMB per bottle retail, were the main driver of the value growth to mainland China, accounting for 84 per cent of the growth.
Among varieties exported from Australia, still red wine was the main beneficiary of the growth in exports to mainland China, with total volume of red wine up 3 per cent to 330 million litres and value up 27 per cent to $1.5 billion compared to 2022–23.
Cabernet Sauvignon grew in value by 41 per cent to $469 million and volume by 12 per cent to 70 million litres, with the US also contributing to the increase in exports of this variety.
For white wine, Chardonnay remained the number one variety and while volumes declined by 6 per cent to 158 million litres, value was up marginally to $307 million.
The top performer for still white wine was Pinot Gris/Grigio, up 15 per cent in volume to 51 million litres and 16 per cent in value to $101 million, a record financial year result for the variety.
The US was the main driver of the growth in Pinot Gris/Grigio exports.
The top five destinations by value were:
- Mainland China (up $392 million to $400 million)
- US (down $2 million to $357 million)
- UK (down $11 million to $353 million)
- Hong Kong (up $55 million to $275 million), and
- Canada (down $17 million to $146 million).
The top five destinations by volume were:
- UK (down 3 million litres to 217 million litres)
- US (down 11 million litres to 124 million litres)
- Canada (down 8 million litres to 68 million litres)
- Mainland China (up 31 million litres to 33 million litres), and New Zealand (down 3 million litres to 28 million litres).