Mainland China helps US wineries to record export sales in 2013

US wine exports to mainland China continued to rise in 2013, despite losing some momentum in the face of government austerity measures.

Shipments of US wine to China rose by nearly 6% in value last year versus 2012, to US$77.2m, helping global exports of US wine to hit a record $1.55bn.

Mainland China is now close to overtaking Hong Kong as the fourth largest export market by value for US wines, after shipments to Hong Kong slipped by 12% in 2013 to $77.6m.

'Asia's emerging wine markets remained a growth engine for California wines in 2013 despite the detrimental effects on sales resulting from China's new government austerity programme,' said Eric Pope, director of emerging markets at the California-based Wine Institute, which released the export figures.

However, the pace of growth in shipments to Mainland China slowed considerably from 2012. Exports crept up by just 1% in volume terms in 2013, 17.8m litres, versus 10% growth a year earlier.

California accounts for 90% of US wine exports and the state's authorities have redoubled efforts to promote Californian wines in China over the past year.

Around 120,000 people turned out for California wine week in Shanghai and California's profile has also been raised by celebrity ex-basketball player Yao Ming, who has a launched a range of Napa Valley wines in China.

There was a mixed performance for US wine exports in Asia as whole. Alongside the decline in Hong Kong, shipments to Taiwan fell by 15% in value to $9.5m and exports to the third largest market globally, Japan, slipped by 7% to $101.6m.

But, South Korea, Philippines and Singapore all showed strong rises.