The United States has significantly increased its imports of European wine in recent months amid concerns over potential tariff adjustments that could impact trade with the region. According to a recent report by market analysis firm DelReyAWM, based on data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, wine imports rose 4.4% between November and January compared to the same period last year. Analysts interpret this trend as a response to expectations of future trade restrictions, coinciding with the election of a new U.S. president.
For the twelve months ending in January, overall U.S. wine imports remained stable, rising slightly by 0.4% to 1.23 billion liters. However, since November, the pace of imports has accelerated, with a 3.2% increase recorded in January alone, totaling 112 million liters.
Industry experts attribute the surge in imports to two main factors. First, the domestic wine market is recovering from a slowdown in 2023, which was largely caused by excess inventory. Second, anticipation of new tariffs has driven importers and distributors to stock up, particularly on European wines.
France, Italy, and Chile See Strong Growth
The increase in wine imports has not been uniform across all suppliers. France recorded the highest year-on-year growth at 12.9%, reaching 185 million liters. French wine imports surged by 48% in the November-January period and skyrocketed 74% in January alone compared to the same period in 2024, climbing from 10.2 million liters to 17.7 million liters.
Italy, the largest wine supplier to the U.S. by volume, also experienced significant growth, with an annual increase of 7.6%. Imports from Italy accelerated by 19.2% in the three-month period and surged 22.4% in January.
Chile followed a similar pattern, with U.S. imports of Chilean wine rising 14.4% year-on-year. Growth accelerated to 29.5% in the previous quarter and 21.7% in January. Spanish wine imports also saw moderate gains, rising 9.8% annually, 15% in the quarter, and 13.2% in January.
Declining Imports from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand
While European and Chilean wines have gained traction in the U.S. market, imports from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have sharply declined. Australian wine exports to the U.S. fell 22.9% over the past year, with declines of 16.1% in the most recent quarter and 13.7% in January, though the rate of decline appears to be slowing. Canadian wine exports dropped 12.6% annually, with steep quarterly and January declines of 25.6% and 26.7%, respectively.
New Zealand saw the most significant contraction, with imports plummeting by 41.9% in January alone, losing nearly 6 million liters in a single month. The country’s annual decline reached 18.2%, while its quarterly drop stood at 31.9%.
Outlook Uncertain Amid Potential Tariff Changes
The shifting trade dynamics may be linked to impending tariff measures that could specifically target certain countries, though no final decisions have been confirmed. Despite this uncertainty, the latest data indicates that the U.S. wine import market has become increasingly active, particularly favoring European and Chilean wines, while imports from other key producing regions continue to decline.
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