Bulk wines represent a relatively small share of the global wine market for many countries in the Northern Hemisphere, with a few notable exceptions. However, this phenomenon shows that a lot of wine is sold at very low prices. Despite a general decline in wine consumption and exports, in 2023 bulk exports recorded a strong increase, especially for some countries such as Italy which is at the top of the ranking according to “World Bulk Wine Exhibition”. Italy saw a 12% increase in bulk wine exports in 2023, reaching 408.5 million liters, mainly to Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Portugal also witnessed an increase in bulk exports, with an increase of +5.5% in volume (reaching 39 million litres) and +14% in value, with an average price of 0.88 euros per liter. In contrast, France and Spain – the other two major wine producers – saw their bulk wine exports decline, with drops of 1% and 0.7% in volume and 4% and 3% in value respectively.

Moving on to the Southern Hemisphere, only Australia saw positive growth, with an increase of +5% over 2022, reaching 392 million liters at an average price of 0.73 euros per liter, while New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and South Africa have seen sharp declines in their bulk wine exports, also due to poor harvests.

Source: Wine News