New Zealand Wine Exports Being Driven by Demand From U.S., Asia

(Bloomberg) - An increase in the value of New Zealand’s wine exports is being driven by demand from the U.S., Canada and Asia as traditional markets in Australia and the U.K. retrench, according to a report from the country’s winegrowers.

Exports rose 3 percent by value to a record NZ$1.21 billion ($944 million) in the 12 months through June, although dropping 5 percent in volume, New Zealand Winegrowers said in its annual report.

While the value of New Zealand’s wine exports has almost quadrupled since 2004, that period has been marked by volatile production, with the vineyard area almost doubling and jumps in output in years such as 2008 creating oversupply. Growers are now seeking to focus on premium export wines to protect margins.

“The major growth opportunities are outside our traditional markets of the U.K. and Australia,” Steven Green, chairman ofNew Zealand Winegrowers, said in the report. “To generate volume and value growth, producers will need to navigate complex and sometimes chaotic markets that have not been fully developed up to this point.”

Sales to the U.S. rose 13 percent to NZ$283.7 million and those to Canada increased 10 percent to NZ$78.2 million, according to the report. Exports to China gained 6 percent to NZ$26.9 million, while shipments to Hong Kong climbed 11 percent to NZ$20.5 million and those to Germany surged 25 percent to NZ$9.5 million.