Wine exports to China have rebounded, with figures back to levels reached at the peak of the trade in 2019.
China imposed tariffs on Australian wines in 2020 amidst government tensions, but removed them in March this year.
Federal Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt said the removal of duties had allowed the industry to achieve the fourth highest monthly figure for bottled wine exports to China since 2019.
Minister Watt said more than 9.8 million litres of bottled wine was exported to China during May, valued at $142.2 million.
“The majority of that total was exported from South Australia which sent nearly 7.4 million litres worth $125 million,” he said.
“We know the past few years have been incredibly tough for Australia’s wine sector. So to see these figures come through is just fantastic news for the whole industry.”
Minister Watt said the latest figures were almost $50 million higher than the average monthly export value in 2019, prior to COVID.
He said the total value of wine exports to China in the two months since trade resumed was $228 million.
“This is almost four times the value of wine exports to China in 2021, 2022 and 2023 combined.”
