China’s Wine Imports Down 7% in 2021
China’s total wine importation in 2021 faltered in comparison to the previous year as the market’s former biggest partner pulled out its supplies given hefty tariffs.
Last year, China bought a total of US$1.7 billion wines from overseas, which is 7% lesser than the prior year.
French wines made up the bulk of the country’s importation, rising by 48% year on year to US$752 million.
Wines from Chile, Italy, and Spain followed, showing yearly increases of 51%, 44%, and 49%.
While virtually out of the market since the formal imposition of over 200% tariffs in March, Australian wines remained a significant portion of imported wines in China at a value of US$55 million. That, however, represented a year on year crash of 92%.
American importers replaced their Argentinian peers at the sixth spot of top wine importers to China, bringing in a total of US$40.7 million wines in 2021. The latter still grew its importation by 33% to US$37 million.
South African wines, which only came in on the top 10 list last year, more than doubled in China to a value of US$34 million.
Completing this list are wines from New Zealand and Germany, which both expanded by 50% and 31%, respectively.
By category, China saw a 12% drop in the value of 2 liter or less imported wines. It received 44% more wines of more than 2 liters but less than 10 liters last year while other wines of more than 2 liters increased by 17%.
In December alone, wine importation dwindled by 5% to a value of US$171 million.
China’s Top 10 Wine Exporters in 2021 vs 2020
| Rank | Country | Value in 2021 | Value in 2020 | % Change |
| 1 | France | US$752,656,521 | US$508,163,039 | +48% |
| 2 | Chile | US$331,853,196 | US$220,173,789 | +51% |
| 3 | Italy | US$165,326,328 | US$115,039,040 | +44% |
| 4 | Spain | US$146,024,192 | US$97,787,901 | +49% |
| 5 | Australia | US$55,339,889 | US$712,701,863 | -92% |
| 6 | United States | US$40,724,088 | US$23,239,337 | +75% |
| 7 | Argentina | US$37,472,005 | US$28,120,145 | +33% |
| 8 | South Africa | US$34,388,715 | US$15,283,567 | +125% |
| 9 | New Zealand | US$27,317,728 | US$18,265,359 | +50% |
| 10 | Germany | US$27,148,967 | US$20,725,780 | +31% |
| Total | US$1,690,174,374 | US$1,825,074,464 | -7% |
Wine Categories in 2021 vs 2020
| Bottled Wine Size | Value in 2021 | Value in 2020 | % Change |
| In containers holding 2 liters or less | US$1,457,061,645 | US$1,653,099,124 | -12% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters but less than 10 liters | US$12,090,621 | US$8,418,477 | +44% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters | US$107,390,162 | US$91,587,241 | +17% |
China’s Top 10 Wine Exporters in December 2021 vs 2020
| Rank | Country | Value in 2021 | Value in 2020 | % Change |
| 1 | France | US$83,240,954 | US$73,798,604 | +13% |
| 2 | Chile | US$23,966,475 | US$24,232,640 | -1% |
| 3 | Spain | US$19,879,231 | US$13,153,850 | +51% |
| 4 | Italy | US$16,244,540 | US$15,448,074 | +5% |
| 5 | United States | US$5,355,206 | US$2,592,682 | +107% |
| 6 | South Africa | US$4,783,009 | US$1,551,509 | +208% |
| 7 | Argentina | US$3,270,826 | US$3,185,853 | +3% |
| 8 | New Zealand | US$3,269,094 | US$2,494,951 | +31% |
| 9 | Germany | US$2,521,941 | US$2,367,921 | +7% |
| 10 | Georgia | US$1,909,611 | US$1,522,449 | +25% |
| Total | US$171,097,963 | US$179,077,532 | -5% |
Wine Categories in December 2021 vs 2020
| Bottled Wine Size | Value in 2021 | Value in 2020 | % Change |
| In containers holding 2 liters or less | US$149,526,805 | US$160,756,396 | -7% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters but less than 10 liters | US$1,610,496 | US$931,658 | +73% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters | US$4,846,422 | US$8,695,485 | -44% |
