EU Wine Exports Drop by 6% in 2025 as Demand Weakens in Key Markets

The European Commission’s latest agri-food trade report, released last Friday, shows that the European Union set a new record for total agri-food exports in 2025, but the wine sector faced significant challenges. According to the report, EU wine and wine-based product exports reached a value of €16.418 billion in 2025, down from €17.456 billion in 2024. This represents a decline of €1.037 billion, or 6%, making wine the second hardest-hit category after olive oil in terms of export value reduction.

Wine and wine-based products accounted for 7% of all EU agri-food exports in 2025, maintaining their position as the bloc’s third-largest export category behind cereal preparations and dairy. The drop in export value was mainly due to weaker demand from key markets, especially the United States. Exports to the U.S., which remains the EU’s largest market for wine, fell by €721 million, a decrease of 14%. Despite this drop, the U.S. still imported €4.4 billion worth of EU wine and wine-based products, representing 27% of the EU’s total exports in this category.

Other major destinations also saw declines. Exports to the United Kingdom dropped by €148 million (4%), while sales to China fell by €113 million (21%). Exports to Russia decreased by €97 million (15%). The report attributes these declines to changing global demand patterns and increased competition in traditional markets.

In contrast, some regions showed growth. Exports to Sub-Saharan Africa increased by €62 million (14%), and sales to Oceania rose by €40 million (11%). These gains were not enough to offset losses in larger markets but indicate emerging opportunities for EU producers seeking diversification.

The report highlights that while overall agri-food exports from the EU reached a record €238.4 billion in 2025, the contraction in wine exports contributed significantly to a reduction in the EU’s agri-food trade surplus. The surplus for wine and wine-based products stood at €14.970 billion in 2025, down by either €943 million or €963 million from 2024, depending on which section of the report is referenced—a discrepancy noted within the document itself.

Imports of grapes into the EU increased by €238 million (13%) in 2025, driven by both higher prices and volumes. Imports of wine and wine-based products totaled €1.449 billion for the year. Despite these imports, wine remains one of the EU’s strongest categories in terms of trade balance, with only cereal preparations and dairy posting larger surpluses.

The report also points out that while traditional markets such as North America and Western Europe remain dominant for EU wine exports, there is a clear need for market diversification. The sharp decline in sales to China continues a trend seen since 2020, reflecting broader shifts in global consumption and trade dynamics.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) played a stabilizing role for some markets. Switzerland and Japan—both FTA partners—remained among the top five destinations for EU agri-food exports, with Switzerland seeing a 7% increase in total imports from the EU and Japan maintaining strong demand for European wine.

The European Union remains the world’s leading agri-food exporter overall, outperforming other major players such as the United States and China, both of which saw declines in their own export values during 2025. However, the performance of the wine sector underscores vulnerabilities linked to over-reliance on a few large markets and highlights the importance of expanding into new regions.

The data from 2025 suggest that while EU wine continues to be a symbol of European quality and heritage—and an important economic driver—the sector faces ongoing challenges from shifting global demand and increased competition. The European Commission’s report calls attention to these trends as policymakers and industry leaders consider strategies for sustaining growth and maintaining competitiveness in international markets.