China's wine import value jumps nearly 40%

According to data from Chinese customs, China registered a sharp rise in wine imports in 2024, posting a 39.6% increase in value and a 13.7% boost in volume. The total import volume reached 283.1 million liters, amounting to 11,477.4 million yuan. A key factor was the resurgence of Australian wine, which regained ground after China lifted the 200% tariffs imposed in 2020. Compared with 2023, Australian shipments jumped from 1.6 million liters to 78.6 million and from 24.7 million yuan to 4,239.9 million.

Bottled wine accounted for the bulk of these purchases, reaching 165.6 million liters and 10,349.6 million yuan, which represented 90% of total import value and 58.5% of total volume. Bulk wine imports also saw some gains, while sparkling wine imports decreased in value but rose in volume. In total, China sourced wine from 56 different international suppliers.

Australia and France together captured 68% of China's total spending on imported wine in 2024, with Australia posting 4,240 million yuan in value and France following at 3,552 million. In volume terms, Chile remained the top supplier at 94 million liters, though it registered a 15% decline, while Australia recorded 78.6 million liters and France reached 52 million liters, both down from the previous year. Spain ranked sixth in import value at 371 million yuan, a drop of 21.8%, and fifth in volume with 14 million liters, down by 32.7%.

Within the bottled wine category, Australian labels were largely responsible for the positive trend, rising by 3,933.6 million yuan and 34 million liters. Bottled wines from France, Chile, Italy, Spain, and South Africa showed declines, although the United States, New Zealand, and Germany posted higher sales in this segment. French producers represented 69% of the value of China's sparkling wine imports in 2024, despite a 21% drop. Italy led in sparkling wine volume with 3.9 million liters, showing a 23% increase, while France followed with 1.5 million liters, and Spain secured the third spot with 22 million yuan and 0.9 million liters.

Bag-in-box formats were dominated by US wines, holding 37% of the total value and 68% of the volume, although both figures dipped by around 17% and 18%, respectively. Australia climbed to second place in value with 18.65 million yuan, rising by 228%, and 0.29 million liters, up 318%. Spain ranked sixth in value and fourth in volume. Bulk wine imports from Chile fell by 17.7% in volume to 58.9 million liters, while Australia posted a sharp jump of 3,255%, leaping from 1.3 million liters in 2023 to 44 million in 2024. Australia also overtook Chile in value with 275.8 million yuan, a rise of 2,173.5%, compared to Chile's 261 million yuan, down 26%. Spain's position in bulk wine slid further, with steep losses of 92% in value and 82% in volume, while imports from Italy and South Africa also declined.