e Export Approval Report June 2014 states that the average value of bottled wine exports grew by six percent to $4.77 per litre, while bulk wine exports grew marginally to $1.02 per litre.However, total Australian wine exports declined by two percent to 684 million litres, valued at $1.78 million.
Bottled exports of wine above $7.50 per litre increased by four percent to 31 million litres. Although small in volume terms with a five percent share, this segment is valued at $442 million annually, representing a 25 percent value share.
White wine exports increased by three percent to 287 million litres, representing a 42 percent volume share.
AGWA’s acting chief executive, Andreas Clark, said growth was strongest in the ultra-premium segment (above $50 per litre).
“The ultra-premium segment grew by 25 percent to a record 0.95 million litres and valued at $76 million. It’s an early positive indicator of a reversal of the downward trends that were set in place when the global financial crisis took hold in late 2007,” he said.
“We have continued to see decline in the volume of Australian wine exports, mostly in the red wine segment with exports declining by six percent to 383 million litres and accounting for a 56 percent volume share.”
UK and Europe
The UK remains Australia’s biggest export market by volume. While overall volumes declined, bottle wine exports above $7.50 per litre increased by 14 percent to 2.2 million litres.
North America
Higher price segments recorded growth in the US with exports above $7.50 per litre increasing by eight percent to 4.3 million litres.
The under $5.00 price segment saw decline by seven percent to 100 million litres, with total exports to the US declining by 15 percent at 161 million litres valued at $432 million.
Bottled wine exports to Canada followed a similar trend, with premium wine segments on the rise. The strongest growth was seen in exports above $10.00 per litre, with volume up 16 percent to 1.6 million litres.
Bottled exports below $5.00 per litre to Canada declined by 11 percent to 18 million litres.
Asia
Australia was not immune to the slowdown in the China imported wine market with Australian bottled exports declining by eight percent to 33 million litres and bulk wine exports declining by 26 percent to three million litres.
The decline stabilised in the last three months with the sharp declines in the volume of premium Australian wine exports recorded in late 2013 easing.
Other Asian markets had strong results in premium wine exports including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan, particularly in the second half of the financial year.
