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Japanese wine imports dip 7% in 2020
Wine imports to Japan were reported as dipping 7% by volume in 2020; however, imports of Chilean wine went up 4%, making it the only country that saw growth last year.
As reported by Kyodo News, government data showed that wine imports to Japan decreased 7% from the previous year on a volume basis in 2020, as demand from the on-trade was slow due to social distancing restrictions.
Total imports of bottled wine of last year fell to 163.90 million litres from the previous year’s 176.29 million litres. Imports had risen 6% in 2019, after Japan removed import tariffs on European wines.
Meanwhile, best known for its affordability, Chile imported the greatest quantity to Japan, it is also the only country that saw any growth in 2020. Imports increased by 4% from 47.21 million litres to 49.10 million litres. Chile has been the biggest South American supplier to Japan for six straight years – far outpacing its rival Argentina.
France ranked second in imports at 45.25 million litres, dropping from 47.12 million litres in 2019. Italy, Spain and the United States followed, totalling 28.36 million litres, 18.68 million litres and 6.39 million litres, respectively.
Keiko Yoshio, president of Suntory Wine International, mentioned the shift in demand from commercial to household consumption after the outbreak of Covid-19. Wine sales in the country on a volume basis are believed to have declined roughly 10% in 2020.
Japan’s first state of emergency over the pandemic was declared in early April last year covering Tokyo and six prefectures. People were told to stay at home and non-essential businesses, such as restaurants and bars, were requested to suspend their operations. The emergency was extended nationwide later that month. The regulation was completely lifted in late May.
A new round of emergency state for 11 areas, including Tokyo and Osaka, was declared in January due to the continual high number of coronavirus cases. The current state of emergency is supposed to end on 7 February, but it is expected to extend as the daily number of new cases of Covid-19 in Tokyo is still over 1,000.