Burgundy exports to Hong Kong continue to grow

Exports of Burgundy wines to Hong Kong, one of the key export markets for the region, continue to show strong growth in both volume and value, while its global exports have stabilised in the past year.

Exports of Burgundian wines in 2018 stabilised, up 0.2% in terms of volume, equivalent to almost 82.3 million bottles. Turnover grew by 3.6% for €939.8 million during the period, according to the latest figures released by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB).

China showed a mixed performance in 2018, down 10.6% in terms of volume but up 9.9% in terms of revenue.

Japan, a traditionally strong market for Burgundy, suffered moderate drops in volume of 3.2% and 1.5% in value.

Hong Kong however continued to drive growth in Asia. Exports to Hong Kong were up 8.8% in terms of volume and 24.5% in terms of value.

North America is showing strong growth, and Canada in particular, up 9.5% in volume and up 8% in value last year versus 2017, while the US is up 3.8% in volume and 2.2% in value.

Scandinavia is carving out a place for itself with great results in Norway, and Sweden, which was up 12.9% in volume and 13.2% in terms of revenue, and Finland, which is growing year on year, up 14% in terms of volume and 2.7% in revenue. Australia, a developing market, is showing fine growth of 11% in terms of volume and 9.9% in value.

These positive results were unfortunately counterbalanced by what the trade association called, “poor results in traditional European markets”. The UK was down 8.8% in volume and 4.3% in revenue, Germany was down 2.6% in volume and up 1.4% in revenue, and Switzerland was down 6.7% in volume but up 10.7% in value.

For white wines, the ‘Régionale Bourgogne’ appellations were in strong health, up 3.8% in volume and with total revenue of €105.4 million, up 11% versus 2017.

Over this same period, the Régionale appellations of the Mâconnais grew slightly in volume, up 1%, with revenue of €46 million, up 0.2% over 2017. With lower volumes, the Grands Crus of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits and the Village appellations of the Auxerrois-Tonnerrois also grew in volume and value, up 10.6% and 19% respectively.

The Chablis and Petit Chablis appellations, still suffering from the low volumes of the 2016 and 2017 vintages, were down 5.2% in volume over 2017.

For red wines, the Régionale Bourgogne and Mâcon appellations were also very strong, up 14% and 1% in volume over 2017. Together, they accounted for 70% of volumes of red Bourgogne wine exports.

These Régionale appellations also grew in value and were up 17% for the Régionale Bourgogne AOCs and up 8.7% for the Régionale Mâcon.

In terms of revenue, the Grand Cru AOCs of the Côtes de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits also flourished, up 4% over 2017, just like the Village AOCs of the Auxerrois-Tonnerrois over the same period, which were up 11.3% on 2017.

Crémant de Bourgogne wines also enjoyed good growth, up 1.4% in terms of volume and 3.5% in terms of revenue over 2017.