By Annette Shailer
Australian wine exporters have endured a challenging 2008 with the value of wine exports falling 18 per cent to $2.46 billion for the first time in 15 years.
The figures, detailed in the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation’s (AWBC) December wine export approval report, confirm the difficult times for the wine industry.
The average price of wine exported declined eight per cent to $3.53 and for the first time since 1995, volume fell, with an 11 per cent drop to 698 million litres.
The AWBC described 2008 as a ‘tale of two halves’ with the first half dominated by the high Australian dollar and the last half affected by the global economic crisis.
But there were some highlights in 2008, particularly in Asian markets, with three of the top five destinations for absolute value growth in Australian wine exports being China, Hong Kong, and Japan, alongside Denmark and the United Arab Emirates.
To view the report, click here.