Wine Industry Statistics - Domestic Wine Sales

Australian Domestic Wine Sales

• Australian domestic beverage wine sales and imports, by type
• Domestic sales of Australian table wine, by container type
• Wine imports by country of origin

Domestic Wine Sales

According to the ABS, total Australian domestic sales—including imported wines—increased by 1.2% during 2011-2012 to 536.9 ML (see table). Domestic sales of Australian-produced wine decreased by 2.0% to 454.3 ML.

The market share of domestic wines has reduced in comparison with that of imported wines which made substantial inroads in the Australian domestic market. Australian-produced wine accounted for 84.6% of total sales, while imports accounted for 15.4%. In 2006-07, Australian-produced wines comprised 92.9% of total domestic sales. Sales of Australian-produced fortified grew by 2.9% while sales of table wine and sparkling wines decreased. Prior to this year there was a steady growth of domestic sales in the 'other' category which comprises vermouth, carbonated wines and flavoured wines including cocktails, marsala, aperitif and tonic wines, de-alcoholised wine and low and reduced alcohol wines. This category decreased this year and now accounts for 3.8% of all domestic sales of Australian wines.

Sales of domestic table wine sold in glass containers of less than two litres dropped (-0.3%) after posting three straight years of gains (see table). In 2011-12, 213.4 ML (55.2% of domestic sales) were sold in glass containers less than two litres, comprising 106.0 ML of red/rosé wine (+0.5%) and 107.4 ML of white wine (-1.0%). The amount of table wine sold in soft packs fell again to 139.4 ML (-5.5%). Soft pack sales comprise 36.1% of the total domestic sales. In 2000-01 soft packs accounted for 54.1% of sales.

Imports

According to the ABS, the volume of Australian wine imports increased by 23.2% in the past year to 82.5 ML while the value increased by 12.5% to A$529.7 million. Imports now account for 15.4% of domestic wine sales, up from 7.1% in 2006-07 (see table). Sparkling wine accounted for 10.4 ML or 12.6% of all imports and imported sparkling wine accounted for 22.9% of all sparkling wine consumed in Australia. The average price per litre of imported table wine dropped by 8.7% from A$7.03 to $6.42.

New Zealand has consolidated at the top of the list in terms of imported wines coming into Australia (see table). Australia now imports 54.6 ML of New Zealand wine at a value of $299.1 million and an average price per litre of $5.47. New Zealand imports showed volume growth of 20.3% and an increase in value growth of 14.0%. New Zealand wines represent nearly 66% of all wines imported into Australia by volume and 56% by value.

France maintained its second place listing this year and pipped Italy on volume and value with 11.2 ML at a value of $162.4 million and an average price per litre of $14.52. French wines hold 31% of the total value of imported wine sales in the Australian domestic market despite supply only 14% by volume.