Portuguese wine exports to China experienced a significant resurgence in the first quarter of 2024, reversing several years of decline, as reported by ViniPortugal.
China imported Portuguese wine valued at approximately €2 million in the first three months of 2024, marking an over 12 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. This growth occurred despite a 2.1 percent decline in overall export volume, thanks to a more than 2 percent rise in average price, bolstered by substantial price gains in markets like the Netherlands, where prices surged nearly 33 percent.
In total, wine exports in the first quarter generated €212 million, with an average price of €2.85 per litre for the 74 million litres sold. Nearly one-third of the export revenue came from three countries: France (€24.8 million), the United States (€23.7 million), and Brazil (€18.3 million).
Portugal’s rich winemaking heritage, spanning approximately 4,000 years and influenced by various European and Middle Eastern cultures, boasts a variety of unique indigenous grape varieties. These “full-blooded, fruit-filled wines” are Portugal’s “trump card” in the global market, according to the Wine Society consumer cooperative.
Frederico Falcão, president of ViniPortugal, credited recent marketing strategies and expanded distribution channels for the sustained resilience of Portuguese wine in a volatile market. “The role that Portuguese wine exports have played in increasing Portugal’s visibility and reputation as a reference producer is undeniable,” he stated.
