US wine imports 2008 : Spain maintains position, Argentina grows

In a press release from the recently formed Observatorio Español del Mercado del Vino citing data sourced from the USDA and the US. Dept. of Commerce for year-to-year date November to October, the total value in 2008 imports of wine into the US grew by only 0,5% to US$ 4.7 billion ( o 4,7 mill milliones) following growth of 11.2% over the past seven years. The volume of trade dropped by 3.8% from 2007 to 813 million liters.

Argentina was the only country wine exporting to the US to have the value of trade grow in 2008 as value rose by 29% on 13% growth in volume. A sign that US wine drinkers are moving up-market in Argentinian wines, which as yet have a smaller presence in the market (4th ranked exporter by volume; 8th by value). Australia suffered the largest drop in wine exports to the US (-10.5% in value, -8% in volume).

Spain's wine export grew by 3% in value on 0.4% growth in volume and was the 4th ranking exporter by value at 278 million dollars behind France (US$1.5 billion) , Italy (US$1.3 billion) and Australia (US$713 million). Spain was the 6th ranking exporter by volume. In price per liter, Spain was the second ranked country at US$5.93 per liter, well behind the $12.98/ liter for French wine.

In comparing market share by value and volume, the prestige factor of French wines indicated by the price / liter ratio becomes even clearer: France holds almost 32% of the US market by value on 14% of the volume. Italy has rough parity: 27% value / 29% volume, as does Spain at 5.8% value / 6% volume. However Australia and Argentina are underweighted. Australia's share of market is 17% by value on 23% of volume, while Argentina holds 3.7% of value on 9% of volume.

OEMV USA wine import data 2008.pdf (in spanish)