Australian wine exports increased by 1 per cent in volume to 623 million litres and declined by 4 per cent in value to $1.94 billion in the year ended 31 December 2022, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today. 

Exports to Northeast Asia declined by 10% in value to AU$314 million and 15% in volume to 32 million litres, mainly affected by sluggish performances in its fourth biggest export market by value Hong Kong and neighboring mainland China.

Exports to Hong Kong dived 13% to AU$167 million. This caused its overall exports to China including Hong Kong and Macau to contract 14% to just AU$192 million, below the AU$200 million mark, a new low since China imposed up to 218% anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wines.

Relations between China and Australia are thawing and there are talks of lifting restrictions on wine but no official announcement has been made.

Growth in exports to Japan offset some of this loss, up by 8% to AU$51 million and driven by exports above AU$10 per litre, which reached a calendar year record of AU$13 million. The number of exporters to Japan grew by 23% to 260 in 2022, up from 211 in 2021. While exports to South Korea declined overall, the above AU$10 segment showed strong growth, up 28% to AU$26 million.