Trade disruptions caused by a resurgence of coronavirus infections in China brought down wine importation by 20% year on year in the first three months of 2022.
Data from China Customs showed that US$348 million worth of imported wines entered the country in January-March.
French wines, the top wine import in China, declined by 16% in value to US$151 million while second most imported wine, Chilean wines, grew by 3% to US$83.7 million.
Wines exported from Italy to China decreased by 16% to US$35 million. Spanish exporters brought US$27.8 million wines to the country, down 17% compared to the level seen in the first quarter of 2021.
American wines jumped by 44% in value to US$11 million while Argentinian wines went down 36%.
Wines from New Zealand and Germany saw declines of 5% and 6%, respectively.
Among top exporters, Georgia was the only exporting country that saw a twofold increase in exports to China in the first quarter worth US$4.6 million compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, South African wines dwindled in value by 34% to US$3.7 million.
In terms of categories, imported bottles containing 2 liter or less of wine slid by 22%, bottles holding more than 2L but less than 10L down 31% while bottles with over 2L of wine rose by 5%.
In March alone, China imported US$104.5 million worth of wines, also down 13% compared to the same month last year.
China's Top 10 Wine Exporters in Q1 2022
| Rank | Country | Value in 2022 | Value in 2021 | % Change |
| 1 | France | US$151,225,769 | US$180,244,879 | -16% |
| 2 | Chile | US$83,722,775 | US$80,973,600 | +3% |
| 3 | Italy | US$34,992,042 | US$41,443,531 | -16% |
| 4 | Spain | US$27,856,588 | US$33,395,356 | -17% |
| 5 | United States | US$11,034,917 | US$7,639,492 | +44% |
| 6 | Argentina | US$5,812,569 | US$9,129,934 | -36% |
| 7 | New Zealand | US$5,472,188 | US$5,746,538 | -5% |
| 8 | Germany | US$5,248,695 | US$5,570,545 | -6% |
| 9 | Georgia | US$4,606,669 | US$2,149,040 | +114% |
| 10 | South Africa | US$3,701,636 | US$5,637,290 | -34% |
| Total | US$347,996,438 | US$434,039,152 | -20% |
Wine Categories in Q1 2022
| Bottled Wine Size | Value in 2022 | Value in 2021 | % Change |
| In containers holding 2 liters or less | US$293,961,633 | US$376,571,269 | -22% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters but less than 10 liters | US$2,239,646 | US$3,265,592 | -31% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters | US$29,349,132 | US$28,047,079 | +5% |
China's Top 10 Wine Exporters in March 2022
| Rank | Country | Value in 2022 | Value in 2021 | % Change |
| 1 | France | US$43,146,464 | US$55,613,525 | -22% |
| 2 | Chile | US$27,552,434 | US$24,059,614 | +15% |
| 3 | Italy | US$10,779,992 | US$12,074,403 | -11% |
| 4 | Spain | US$8,848,854 | US$9,345,256 | -5% |
| 5 | United States | US$2,780,463 | US$2,585,297 | +8% |
| 6 | New Zealand | US$2,019,401 | US$3,040,254 | -34% |
| 7 | Germany | US$1,944,976 | US$1,649,413 | +18% |
| 8 | South Africa | US$1,308,347 | US$2,012,617 | -35% |
| 9 | Argentina | US$1,247,681 | US$2,922,225 | -57% |
| 10 | Georgia | US$1,034,533 | US$556,038 | +86% |
| Total | US$104,524,004 | US$120,381,727 | -13% |
Wine Categories in March 2022
| Bottled Wine Size | Value in 2021 | Value in 2020 | % Change |
| In containers holding 2 liters or less | US$83,516,514 | US$104,196,027 | -20% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters but less than 10 liters | US$442,936 | US$841,032 | -47% |
| In containers holding more than 2 liters | US$13,137,433 | US$5,877,394 | +124% |
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