Enquiring minds want to know whether the top wine producers of the world only export wine or do they import it as well?  And if they do obtain wine from elsewhere, what are their countries of choice?

Let’s begin by identifying who the top 10 wine exporters are. Based on the latest world wine export statistics, the top wine exporters are:

1. France, which exported the equivalent of $11.9 billion U.S.
2. Italy, which exported the equivalent of $7.7 billion U.S.
3. Spain, which exported the equivalent of $2.9 billion U.S.
4. Chile, which exported the equivalent of $1.9 billion U.S.
5. New Zealand, which exported the equivalent of $1.3 billion U.S.
6. Portugal, which exported the equivalent of $780.4 million U.S.
7. Argentina, which exported the equivalent of $780.2 million U.S.
8. Australia, which exported the equivalent of $779.1 million U.S.
9. South Africa, the fastest growing export market in the world, shipped the equivalent of $646 million U.S.
10. Georgia, which exported the equivalent of $247.8 million U.S.

These same countries also posted the highest positive net exports of wine. Net exports are defined as the value of a country’s total wine exports minus the value of its total wine imports.  

It is interesting to note that the 5 biggest exporters of wine collectively supplied 70.1% of globally exported wine in terms of dollar sales.

So, how much wine do each of these countries import? Beginning with France, in 2022 it imported around 628 million litres of wine at a value of about $600 million U.S. Those imports came from Spain with a share of 23% ($251 million), Italy with a share of 21% ($233 million) and the U.S. with a share of 10.8% ($115 million).

Italy imported $500 million of wine. Those imports came mainly from France ($353 million), Spain ($75.2 million), Germany ($12.5 million), Portugal ($10.1 million) and United Arab Emirates ($7.66 million).

Spain imported $332 million in wine, mainly from France ($196 million), Italy ($61.6 million), Portugal ($21.6 million), Germany ($7.83 million) and the United Kingdom ($7.06 million).

Chile imported $19.8 million of wine, making it the 83rd largest importer of wine in the world. Chile imports wine primarily from: Italy ($6.98 million), Argentina ($3.9 million), United Arab Emirates ($3.36 million), France ($1.92 million) and Spain ($1.81 million).

Domestic wine consumption in New Zealand accounts for an estimated 49.2 million litres of the 90.2 million litres currently sold there each year. The remaining 41 million litres (45.5 per cent) was imported. The total import market was valued at $236 million.

Portugal’s wine imports amounted to over $50 million.

Argentina imported $12.9 million of wine, making it the 103rd largest importer of wine in the world. Wine imports came primarily from: France ($4.47 million), United Arab Emirates ($3.82 million), Chile ($2.17 million), Spain ($728 thousand) and Italy ($568 thousand).

Australia’s total wine imports have increased over the past few years, rising to 106 million litres. This is a compound average annual growth rate of just under 3 per cent.

South Africa imported $53.4 million of wine, making it the 53rd largest wine importer in the world.

Georgia imported $15.3 million of wine, becoming the 94th largest wine importer. Wine was the 179th most imported product in Georgia.

So, what does all this show? Even the great wine producers of the world like to have variety in the wines they drink.

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