The value of Australian wine exports in the 12 months ended June 2025 increased by 13 per cent to $2.48bn, while the volume increased by three per cent to 639 million litres, which is been largely driven by mainland China.
Wine exports to global markets fell by 11 per cent in value to $1.59bn and by six per cent in volume to 554 million litres. The decline in value was largely attributed to a shift in sales from Hong Kong to mainland China, while the drop in volume reflected both limited export supply following three successive smaller vintages and weakening demand in key international markets.
Peter Bailey, Manager, Market Insights, Wine Australia said the latest data shows the impact of the China market reopening in March 2024 is beginning to stabilise.
“The year-on-year increase in exports was almost entirely driven by mainland China after tariffs on Australian bottled wine were removed at the end of March 2024.
“Over 12 months have passed since tariffs in mainland China were removed and the initial surge in exports has eased, resulting in 85 million litres of wine exports to the market in the 12 months ended June 2025, worth $893m.
“The quarter ended June 2025 was 35 per cent smaller in value than the same quarter in the previous year. This indicates that the level of exports to mainland China may be normalising after the initial re-stocking phase.”
He added: “The return of mainland China offers a valuable market, with global wine consumption at its lowest level since 1961. However, it has only had a small impact on total export volume, as the volume shipped to mainland China is half of what it was at its peak in 2018.
“This reflects the decline in wine consumption in the Chinese market over the last five years; the market is now only a third of the size it was in 2019. In the past 12 months, imports from France, Italy, Spain, and Chile have all declined.”
In terms of other key markets, Australian wine exports to the US declined by 10 per cent in volume to 111 million litres, and 12 per cent in value to $314m – the lowest value in over two decades.
Exports to the UK over the last 12 months have been relatively stable, with value declining by one per cent to $350m, and volume declined six per cent to 204 million litres. Australian wine maintains its market leadership in the UK with a 23 per cent share of off-premise wine sales.
The top destinations by value were:
- Mainland China, up 123 per cent to $893m,
- United Kingdom, down one per cent to $350m,
- United States, down 12 per cent to $314m,
- Canada, up seven per cent to $157m, and
- Hong Kong, down 54 per cent to $127 million.
The top destinations by volume were:
- United Kingdom, down six per cent to 204 million litres,
- United States, down 10 per cent to 111 million litres,
- Mainland China, up 162 per cent to 85 million litres,
- Canada, down 10 per cent to 61 million litres, and
- New Zealand, down nine per cent to 25 million litres.