Stockholm, Sweden – Sweden’s wine imports fell in volume during the first half of 2024, recording a 6.4% decline to 94.6 million liters compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from the Swedish customs authority. This marks the first time since 2010 that imports for the first six months have dipped below the 100 million-liter threshold. However, the overall value of wine imports only saw a modest decline of 2.3%, totaling 4.64 billion Swedish kronor (SEK), making it the second-highest first-half value on record, just behind the 4.74 billion SEK registered in 2023.
The average price per liter of imported wine rose by 4.5% to 49.02 SEK, signaling a shift toward higher-priced offerings. In euro terms, Sweden’s wine imports amounted to approximately €404.3 million, with an average price of €4.27 per liter.
Mixed Performance Across Wine Categories
Sweden’s wine imports displayed varied results across categories. Sparkling wine was the only segment to show growth in both volume and value, with imports rising 5.3% to 13.9 million liters, valued at 1.00 billion SEK, an increase of 1.7%. On the other hand, imports of other categories saw declines. Packaged wine, which remains the largest category, experienced a 1.6% drop in volume to 45.1 million liters, valued at 2.68 billion SEK, a 2% decline. Bag-in-box (BiB) wine, a popular format in Scandinavia, fell sharply by 14.7% to 22.6 million liters, while bulk wine imports dropped by 16.6% to 13 million liters.
In terms of value, sparkling wine was the second-highest category, followed by BiB at 676 million SEK (-5%) and bulk wine at 280 million SEK (-10.2%). Sparkling wine commanded the highest average price at 72.01 SEK per liter, compared to BiB at 29.94 SEK per liter and bulk wine at 21.50 SEK per liter.
France Leads, Spain Defies the Trend
France continued to dominate as Sweden’s largest wine supplier, both by volume and value, during the first half of 2024. French wine imports totaled 20.8 million liters, slightly down by 0.4%, with a total value of 1.55 billion SEK, up by 0.5%. French wines remained the most expensive among major suppliers, with an average price of 74.32 SEK per liter. Italy followed as the second-largest supplier, with 20.1 million liters imported, a 9.9% decline in volume, and a value of 1.01 billion SEK, down 4.1%.
Spain, the third-largest supplier, bucked the trend by posting a 1.7% increase in volume to 13.5 million liters. However, the value of Spanish imports fell slightly by 0.8% to 562 million SEK. South Africa and Germany rounded out the top five suppliers by volume, with Germany surpassing Denmark, which saw a dramatic 29.5% drop in exports to Sweden.
Economic Context and Consumer Shifts
The Swedish krona, which had weakened against the euro in 2022 and 2023, has shown signs of stabilization in 2024, though it remains weaker than pre-2022 levels. This stabilization likely helped cushion the impact of declining import volumes, while the increase in average prices suggests a shift toward higher-quality or premium wines among Swedish consumers.
Challenges for Exporters
Several wine-exporting countries faced difficulties in the first half of 2024, particularly Denmark, the United States, and Portugal. Danish exports to Sweden fell dramatically, down 29.5% in volume and 21% in value. The U.S. also saw a 4.4% drop in export value. In contrast, South Africa experienced a 2.4% rise in export value despite offering wines at below-average prices.
Outlook for the Wine Market
Despite the decline in import volumes, Sweden’s wine market has proven resilient, with steady import values and rising average prices. The strong performance of sparkling wine underscores a shift in consumer preferences, which could shape future import trends. As economic conditions evolve, Sweden remains a crucial market for international wine suppliers.
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