Bottled Wine Imports Plummet 14% in Ireland

In the first half of 2024, Ireland imported 38.6 million liters of wine, a 10.5% decrease compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from Irish customs. The value of these imports saw a slight decline of 0.6%, amounting to 154.3 million euros, despite an 11% increase in the average price, which rose to 4 euros per liter, up by 40 cents. This negative trend contrasts with the growth seen in 2023, when imports rose by 6% in volume and 9% in value. Imports had also grown in 2022 after a significant drop in 2021, following a record year in 2020.

The pattern of imports during the first half of 2024 varied. There were increases in both volume and value in January and April, but sharp declines in February, March, and June. In May, the value of imports grew, although the volume decreased. The type of wine that Ireland imported the most during this period was bottled wine, which accounted for 92.5% of the total volume imported, reaching 35.7 million liters, a 14% decrease. In terms of value, bottled wine represented 90.5% of the total, with 139.7 million euros, a 2% drop. The price of bottled wine increased by 14%, reaching 3.91 euros per liter.

Ireland also recorded a significant increase in its imports of sparkling wine, which became the second most imported wine, with 2.5 million liters, up by 116%, and valued at 13.4 million euros, a 16.7% increase. However, the average price of sparkling wine fell by 46%, down to 5.43 euros per liter. Bulk wine was the third most imported type, with 279,790 liters, a 15.5% decrease, and valued at 943,671 euros, a slight 1% drop. The average price of bulk wine increased by 17%, to 3.37 euros per liter, significantly higher than the global average for this type of wine. As for wine in bag-in-box format, imports grew by 40% in volume, but only 1.1% in value, due to a 28% drop in the average price, which fell to 1.90 euros per liter.

Ireland imported wine from 49 international suppliers during the first half of 2024. Chile gained market share as the leading supplier in terms of volume, with an 8.6% increase, reaching 7.5 million liters, closely followed by France with 6.1 million liters, a 16.7% decrease. In terms of value, France led imports with 32.1 million euros, a 5.5% decline, while Chile ranked second with 25 million euros, a 14% increase. The average price of French wine was 5.24 euros per liter, up 13.4% from the previous year, while Chilean wine had an average price of 3.33 euros per liter, a 5.1% increase.

Italy maintained its position as Ireland's third-largest wine supplier, with 5.3 million liters, an 8.7% increase, and 18.5 million euros, a 6% rise, despite a difficult June. Australia remained the fourth-largest supplier in volume, with 3.3 million liters, a 6% decrease, closely followed by Spain, which fell by 15% to 3 million liters. New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom rounded out the list of the top suppliers in volume. In terms of value, Spain gained market share as the fourth-largest supplier, with 15.6 million euros, a 14% increase, and an average price of 5.20 euros per liter, up 34%. New Zealand was in fifth place with 15 million euros, a 4.4% drop, and Australia ranked sixth with 10.8 million euros, a 5.7% decrease. The Netherlands saw a remarkable 93% increase in value, driven by a 185% rise in prices, while imports from the United States and Argentina decreased by 3.7% and 17%, respectively.