Australian Wine Exports Surge 30% in 2024 as China Reopens, Reaching $2.67 Billion

Australian wine exports saw a significant recovery in 2024, driven mainly by the reopening of the Chinese market. After several years of trade restrictions, China resumed large-scale imports of Australian wine, leading to a 30% increase in total exports. The value of these exports reached 2.67 billion Australian dollars, or about 1.8 billion euros. Export volumes also rose, from 6.25 to 6.63 million hectoliters, marking a 6% increase.

China’s return as a major buyer was the most notable change. Exports to China jumped from just 14 million to 877 million Australian dollars, and volumes increased from 15,000 to 816,000 hectoliters. This surge accounted for more than the total increase in Australia’s wine exports for the year. The shift was partly offset by a decline in exports to Hong Kong, which dropped from 302 million to 172 million dollars. Industry analysts believe Hong Kong had previously served as an entry point for Australian wine into mainland China during the period of trade restrictions.

Other Asian markets showed mixed results. Exports to Thailand fell by about 15 million dollars. Meanwhile, traditional Western markets did not perform as well. Shipments to the United States declined by 8%, falling to 360 million dollars, while exports to the United Kingdom dropped by 2% to 391 million dollars. Despite this decrease, the UK remained Australia’s second-largest export market after China’s resurgence.

The growth in exports was concentrated in bottled wines, which saw a sharp increase of 40%, rising from 1.47 billion to 2.06 billion Australian dollars. Bulk wine exports grew more modestly by 6%, reaching 519 million dollars, while other wine products accounted for an additional 88 million dollars, up by just 2%. Sparkling wines continued to play only a minor role in Australia’s export portfolio, representing just 2% of total shipments at around 57 million dollars.

Although China is once again Australia’s top export destination for wine, the market has changed since before the pandemic and trade tensions. Before COVID-19 and tariffs, annual exports to China were between one and 1.1 billion Australian dollars. The current figure of 877 million is still below those levels but is considered significant given the contraction of the Chinese wine market in recent years. According to Chinese import data, Australia now holds about one-third of China’s wine import market.

In contrast, Hong Kong’s role as a transit hub diminished after direct trade with China resumed, with export values returning to pre-restriction levels of around 150 million dollars. The first half of 2025 has shown a slight downturn for Australian wine exports overall, with a reported decrease of about 3% in value and a sharper drop of around 9% when measured in euros.

Australia remains a marginal player in sparkling wines on the global stage, with these products making up only a small fraction of its total wine exports. The country continues to focus on bottled and bulk wines as its main export categories.

The changes in export patterns reflect both shifting international demand and the impact of trade policy decisions over recent years. The reopening of China has provided a much-needed boost for Australian winemakers after several challenging years marked by oversupply and limited access to key markets. However, weaker performance in established markets like the United States and United Kingdom highlights ongoing challenges for the industry as it seeks to diversify its customer base and adapt to changing global consumption trends.