By Amy Looker
A decline in local production is thought to be the trigger behind a 10 per cent decrease in the export of Australian wine, according to a report by Wine Australia.
Exports of Australian wine declined by 10 per cent in 2011, which the report reveals is in correlation with the fall in production of Australian wine in recent years as growers and producers work to combat the grape glut.
However, the average price per litre increased by one per cent for both bulk and bottled wine to $2.69 per litre, marking the first increase in the average value on a calendar year basis since 2007.
Both red and white wine suffered a decline, with white exports down by 15 per cent, red exports down by seven per cent and sparkling wine unchanged at two per cent.
Australia’s top five export destinations – UK, US, Canada, Germany and China – account for 80 per cent of Australia export volumes, yet all were revealed to be in decline by volume.
However, China recorded the largest number of exporters in 2011, with more than 800 wineries exporting their wine to China, ahead of just over 300 exporting wine to the UK.