Organización Interprofesional del Vino de España (OIVE) reports a broad contraction in international wine trade during the first nine months of 2025, based on customs data from major exporting and importing countries.
Between January and September 2025, total global wine exports reached 7,009.4 million liters, marking a 3% decline in volume compared to the same period in 2024. In value terms, exports amounted to EUR 24,753.1 million, representing a sharper 4.6% drop.
The average export price stood at EUR 3.53 per liter, six cents lower than in the first nine months of 2024. Compared to the previous year, global wine trade contracted by 218.6 million liters and EUR 1,186.9 million — a clear signal of softening demand across key markets.
Bottled Wine Under Pressure
Bottled wine, which remains the backbone of international trade, accounted for:
- EUR 16,472 million in value
- 3,548.3 million liters in volume
However, this segment saw declines of 5.7% in value and 4.2% in volume, translating into losses of EUR 991.9 million and 156.7 million liters compared to 2024.
Sparkling wine also experienced contraction, albeit more moderately:
- EUR 5,823.1 million in value (-2.9%)
- 757 million liters in volume (-0.4%)
Bulk wines posted declines of 0.9% in value and 1.5% in volume, totaling EUR 1,855 million and 2,381.8 million liters.
Bag-in-box wines recorded a 1.7% drop in value and a more pronounced 4.2% decrease in volume, reflecting cautious purchasing patterns in entry-level and retail-driven segments.
The only category to show value growth was grape must (HS code 220430), suggesting specific industrial or blending demand despite broader market weakness.
Major Markets: Stability Mixed with Contraction
The United States remained the world’s leading wine importer in economic terms, reaching EUR 4.414 billion, though this represented a 4.4% decline year-on-year.
In volume, Germany maintained its position as the largest importer globally, purchasing 973.5 million liters, down 1.9%. Germany ranked third worldwide in value, behind the US and the United Kingdom.
The United States was the second-largest market by volume, importing 918.8 million liters, a slight 0.5% increase, indicating stable consumption despite reduced overall spending.
The United Kingdom ranked second globally by value at EUR 3,046.4 million and third by volume at 855.7 million liters, but both indicators declined:
- -4.5% in value
- -4.6% in volume
This represented a reduction of EUR 142.5 million and 40.9 million liters compared to the same period in 2024.
Pockets of Growth
Among key markets, Belgium and Sweden recorded positive import growth, demonstrating resilience in select Northern European destinations. Conversely, China and the Netherlands reduced their wine imports, contributing to the overall global downturn.
Structural Weakness, Not Temporary Fluctuation
According to OIVE, these figures confirm a prolonged period of international trade weakness. The decline extends across:
- Most major product categories
- Nearly all relevant global markets
- Both value and volume metrics
The contraction reflects persistent macroeconomic uncertainty, inflationary pressure on consumers, shifting consumption habits, and geopolitical trade tensions.
For producers and exporters, 2025 underscores the necessity of diversification, premiumization strategies, and stronger brand positioning in an increasingly competitive and cautious global marketplace.
Source: Vinetur
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