According to the latest report from the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) Australia has experienced a small rise in wine exports together with growth in the average value of bottled wine.
The report titled, Wine Export Approval Report September 2014 found that total Australian wine exports increased by 0.7 percent to 688 million litres, representing a total value of A$1.78 billion.
The average value of bottled wine exports grew by six percent to A$4.83 per litre, representing six years of consistent growth. According to AGWA’s Acting Chief Executive Andreas Clark, this reflects a slow, but increasing demand for wines in the premium category.
In contrast to the premium category, bulk wine exports fell in value by one percent to A$1.00 per litre. Bottled wine exports declined by seven per cent to 283 million litres which was offset by an increase in bulk wine exports by seven per cent to 399 million litres.
“Growing interest by consumers in premium wines was a contributing factor in wine exports in the A$7.50-$9.99 price segment increasing by eight percent to 15 million litres, and by six per cent in the A$10.00 and above segment to 16.7 million litres,” said Clark.
“Total Australian wine exports increasing in volume were helped in part by the stronger performance of the white wine category which offset declines in red wine."
Clark says that white wine exports increased by five percent to 290 litres with exports of Pinot Gris increasing by 32 percent to 38 million litres. Chardonnay however remained flat at 166 million litres.
In the red wine category, overall exports fell by three per cent to 383 million litres with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot all recording falls.
The report states that the UK remains Australia’s biggest export market by volume which is dominated by bulk wine exports that are destined for Europe. The total volume increased by one percent to 245 million litres. Just 15 percent of wine exported to the UK is bottled – a fall from 19 percent of the previous year.
In the US, total exports declined by eight percent to 164 million litres, however bulk wine exports and bottled wine exports both increased in value up four percent to A$0.96 per litre and up six percent to A$3.49 per litre respectively. The A$7.50 – $9.99 price segment performed the strongest with an increase by 19 percent to 2.8 million litres, followed by the A$10.00 and above segment which recorded growth of 14 percent to 1.7 million litres. Exports under A$2.49 per litre dropped substantially, down 85 per cent to 2.4 million litres.
Canadian exports figures have experienced growth of 20 per cent to 60 million litres as a result of a significant increase in bulk wine exports, and Chinese export figures continued to decline albeit at a slower rate with total wine exports down five per cent to 37 million litres.
The reports states that Chinese austerity measures continue to impact the premium wine segment with the average value of bottled wine exports to China down 8 per cent to A$6.13 per litre.
Other Asian markets had strong results including Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and in particular Hong Kong which returned a record A$94 million in Australian wine exports.