European wine sees increased demand in US market

The United States has increased its imports of European wine in recent months, anticipating potential tariff changes that could impact trade with the region. According to the latest report from market analysis firm DelReyAWM, based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, wine imports grew by 4.4% in the three months between November and January, compared to the same period the previous year. This trend aligns with the election of the country's new president and has been interpreted by analysts as a reaction to expectations of future trade restrictions.

For the twelve months ending in January, overall wine imports into the U.S. remained stable, registering a slight increase of 0.4%, with total volume reaching 1.23 billion liters. However, the pace of imports accelerated significantly starting in November, with a 3.2% rise in January alone, reaching 112 million liters that month.

Analysts attribute the recent growth to two main factors. The first is the recovery of the domestic wine market, which had slowed during 2023 due to excess inventory. The second is the anticipation of new tariffs, which has prompted importers and distributors to bring forward purchases, particularly from Europe.

The growth has not been uniform across supplier countries. France recorded the highest year-on-year increase at 12.9%, totaling 185 million liters. French wine imports surged 48% during the November-January quarter and jumped 74% in January compared to the same month in 2024, rising from 10.2 million to 17.7 million liters. Italy, the top supplier by volume, also saw growth, with a 7.6% annual increase that accelerated to 19.2% in the quarter and 22.4% in January.

Chile followed a similar pattern, with exports to the U.S. up 14.4% year-on-year, 29.5% over the last quarter, and 21.7% in January. Spanish wine imports grew more moderately, posting a 9.8% annual increase, 15% during the quarter, and 13.2% in January.

Meanwhile, shipments from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand declined sharply. Australia's exports dropped 22.9% over the past year, 16.1% during the quarter, and 13.7% in January, though the monthly data shows a slower rate of decline. Canada reported a 12.6% year-on-year decrease, a 25.6% drop for the quarter, and a 26.7% fall in January. New Zealand recorded the steepest fall, with a 41.9% decline in January alone, amounting to a loss of nearly 6 million liters in a single month. Its annual decrease reached 18.2%, and 31.9% during the quarter.

These variations may be linked to the potential targeting of specific countries in upcoming tariff measures, though no final decisions have been confirmed. Despite the uncertainty, the data shows renewed activity in the U.S. wine import market, primarily focused on European wines and, to a lesser extent, Chilean wine, while volumes from other producing regions continue to fall.