In the first six months of 2018, New Zealand wine exports to the US rose by six percent in volume and 13 percent in value in comparison to the same period in 2017, according to the latest quarterly report from Rabobank. The rise was primarily driven by higher sales of bottled wines, up by 11 percent volume, while imports of bulk wine were stagnant in volume terms.
Rabobank senior wine and horticulture analyst Hayden Higgins said growth in NZ wine exports to the US solidified the US market’s status as the most significant market for New Zealand wine producers.
“In recent years the US market has established itself as the largest market for New Zealand wine exports, in regard to both value and volume, and the continued export growth in the first part of 2018 further strengthens this position,” Higgins said.
The report noted the European harvest is almost finished, and, volumes are back in line with historic levels in France, Spain and Italy.
“However after a smaller European harvest in 2017, export volumes from the major European producers are likely to remain constrained, at least until the first wines of the 2018 harvest reach the market.”
