Bulk Wine Trade Hits €2.59 Billion as WBWE 2025 Draws Over 240 Producers to Amsterdam

The World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) will return to RAI Amsterdam on November 24 and 25, 2025, marking its 17th edition as the leading global event for the bulk wine and spirits sector. Organized by Vinexposium, a major player in international wine and spirits events, WBWE is expected to gather more than 240 producers from 25 countries and buyers from over 60 markets. The exhibition covers nearly 80% of the world’s bulk wine trade, making it a central meeting point for industry professionals seeking new business opportunities and market insights.

Bulk wine now accounts for about one third of the global wine market by volume. This segment has shown resilience in a challenging economic environment, with a year-on-year volume decline of only 2.3%, compared to a 4.8% drop in bottled wines. The average price of bulk wine has also increased by 2.1%, reaching €0.78 per liter. These figures highlight the growing importance of bulk as a strategic lever for competitiveness, flexibility, and sustainability in the international wine trade.

The event will feature returning major producers such as Spain, France, Italy, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the United States. Newcomers Mauritius, Lebanon, and Panama will join for the first time, expanding the diversity of offerings. The exhibition will showcase a wide range of products including red, white, and rosé wines; organic and fortified wines; sparkling wines; spirits; low- and no-alcohol drinks; and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. This reflects ongoing trends in consumer demand for alternative formats like bag-in-box, cans, and kegs.

Sustainability remains a key focus at WBWE 2025. The event will highlight packaging innovations that reduce carbon impact and logistics costs. A roundtable discussion titled “Cracking the sustainable packaging puzzle” will address challenges faced by operators seeking efficient and environmentally friendly solutions.

The rise of no- and low-alcohol products is another significant trend driving growth in the bulk market. Improved dealcoholization technologies and increased investment have helped this category move beyond niche status to become a rapidly expanding segment. The diversification into RTD beverages and alternative packaging formats is seen as a way to attract new consumers and counteract declining traditional wine consumption.

Bulk spirits are also gaining ground at WBWE. Distilleries are increasingly interested in bulk trade for its flexibility and potential to reduce environmental impact through transport pooling. Notable participants include Angus Dundee Distillers from the UK, Casa Maestri Tequila from Mexico, and O’Neill Vintners & Distillers from the United States.

A major feature of WBWE is The Academy program, which offers ten expert-led conferences and masterclasses on topics such as minimizing risks in bulk goods transport, sustainable packaging solutions, global sourcing strategies, pricing pressures, dealcoholization innovations, and the commercial value of oak in winemaking and spirits production.

The International Bulk Wine Competition (IBWC), held ahead of the exhibition, is judged blind by a panel of buyers and trade journalists. For the first time in 2025, winners of Grand Gold and Gold medals will present their products during an exclusive session called the Grand Gold Pitch. All award-winning products will be available for tasting by visitors during the event.

The exhibition’s Silent Tasting Room allows attendees to sample more than 350 different bulk wines and spirits at their own pace. This self-service area is designed to facilitate discovery while providing direct access to producers.

Opening the event on November 24 will be a keynote conference featuring Giorgio Delgrosso from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and Rafael del Rey from AWM. They will present analyses on production estimates for 2025 and discuss structural trends shaping the global bulk wine market.

According to recent data from Del Rey AWM’s report “Bulk Wine Markets – Evolution up to June 2025,” total global trade volume reached nearly 33 million hectoliters with a value of €2.59 billion between June 2024 and June 2025. Spain remains the leading exporter by both value and volume; the United Kingdom leads imports by value while Germany leads by volume.

The World Bulk Wine Exhibition continues to serve as both a marketplace and an observatory for change within the industry. It brings together established exporters such as Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, France, Argentina, Moldova, South Africa, and the United States with emerging players like Mauritius, Panama, and Lebanon.

With its focus on innovation in product offerings, packaging sustainability, logistics efficiency, and new market trends such as no- or low-alcohol beverages and RTDs, WBWE 2025 aims to provide practical solutions for industry professionals navigating an evolving landscape marked by economic uncertainty and shifting consumer preferences.

In its role as a catalyst for business development and sector transformation, WBWE offers participants access to current market intelligence through conferences led by international experts as well as opportunities for direct engagement with buyers representing most of the world’s bulk wine trade.

As global consumption patterns change amid economic pressures and environmental concerns, events like WBWE are increasingly important for producers seeking to adapt their strategies while maintaining competitiveness in international markets. The exhibition’s comprehensive approach—combining business networking with education on sustainability initiatives—positions it as a key event for anyone involved in bulk wine or spirits production or trade worldwide.