Calendar year 2002 was exceptional in a series of record years for Australian wine exports, according to new figures from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
Record volume and value levels were reached with a A$531m (US$303m) rise to A$2.3 billion, on a total volume up 96m litres to 471m litres.
This was a 26% by value and 30% by value increase over calendar 2001.
December exports topped 50m litres for the first time in any month.
Red wine sales and exports to the US were the major drivers of growth in 2002, the Corporation said. Red wine sales rose by 34%. US sales surged 53% in volume.
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By GlobalDataThis reflects the recent alliances and joint ventures by Australia’s major producers. The UK remains Australia’s biggest market taking 39% of total exports followed by the US and Canada.
“The very strong result that has pushed us beyond industry predictions for exports this year has been the result in the United States,” Australian Wine Export Council managing director Jonathan Scott said today.
Scott said Australia has about a 5% share of the US wine market, which is dominated by domestic production, following improved access to the crucial distribution network.
“The investment that Australian wine producers have made in the US market, together with strategic alliances and joint ventures forged with US wine companies and importers are certainly impacting positively on our export figures,” he said.
