UK spends 19% less on Aussie wine |
| Written by Graham Holter |
| Thursday, 09 July 2009 06:19 |
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Exports of Australian wine to the UK fell by almost 19% in value terms in the past year, official figures have revealed.
Volumes were down 1%, meaning that although the UK still buys more wine than any of Australia's other export customers, it is paying less overall than the USA. Exports to the UK came in at 265 million litres for the year to June, worth A$723.2 million. Sales in the UK worked out at A$2.72 a litre, compared to A$3.14 in the USA and A$4.79 in Canada. In its year-end report, Wine Australia said: "In 2008-09, the volume of Australian wine exports increased 6% to 750 million litres. Value declined 10% to A$2.43 billion on the back of an average price decline of 15% to A$3.24 per litre. "The Australian wine industry confronted a set of challenging trading conditions in 2008-09 that are ongoing, including the global financial crisis, exchange rate volatility, continuing intense competition from other suppliers, tightening margins, and supply and demand imbalances. "Despite the trading conditions, volume was still the second highest on record for a financial year while the absolute value decline was lower than in 2007-08." |
Comments
Despite the difficult trading conditions being experienced in the UK, De Bortoli wines are pleased to announce that MAT figures to the end of June 2009 indicate an increase in business of around 20% in the UK by both volume and value. This is due both to sustained business in the independent trade and also to new listings within the multiple retail trade. We are putting a strong platform in place to continue this performance in 2010 and will be ready for further growth once economic indicators improve. We are working at both the commercial and the premium end of the market, on the quality of our wines and improvements in labelling.”