Australia is continuing to grow its income from exporting wine.
The total value increased by five per cent to $2.78 billion in the 12 months to March this year.
The average value per litre climbed to $3.41, the highest level since 2009.
Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark said that the continued growth in the value of exports was an extremely positive trend for the sector.
He said that the volume of exports had declined by three per cent to 814 million litres, but the increasing value overall and on average was overwhelmingly positive.
“What we are seeing is a drop in volumes in the lower value categories,” Mr Clark said.
“This places Australia well as the global consumer premiumises and drinks less but more expensive wines.”
In the China market, Australia has grown its value again and is outperforming competitors.
The Global Trade Atlas figures showed that in the year ending February, Australia had a 29 per cent share of the imported wine market in China – up from 26 per cent a year ago.
“We are also seeing positive trends in the USA off-trade market, where sales of Australian wine grew three per cent in value to US$521 million in the year ended December 2018,” Mr Clark said.
“Even more encouraging is that Australian wine priced above US$15 per bottle has also grown by three per cent.”
He said Australian wine supplies would remain tight in the short term with much of the 2018 vintage yet to hit the market and the expectation that 2019 vintage would be below the long-term average.
