Newer data: Wine imports in China, Korea and Japan, 2025 data
2021 wine import figures in the top Asian markets
Benjamin BirotFounder, General Manager Asia-Pacific
Overall, the past year has been very difficult for the on-trade, on the supply chain with
shipment delays and cancellation of many wine fairs.
However, it’s interesting to notice that among the main Asian markets (China, Hong-Kong, South Korea, and Japan) some are showing a sharp growth in their wine imports.
South Korea 2021 Key figures
Wine import value : US$560 million
Evolution VS 2020: +70%
Top exporters to South Korea :
🥇 France : US$162 million (+94% YoY).
🥈 US : US$90.6 million (+62% YoY).
🥉 Italy : US$90 million (+86% YoY).
Now considered as the most attractive global wine market with the US, SK has fastest growth rate among the big Asian players.
Market trend : One of the driving forces behind Korea’s wine growth was the country’s strong home consumption amid the pandemic.
Japan 2021 Key figures
Wine import value : US$1.6 billion
Evolution VS 2020: +12%
Top exporters to Japan :
🥇 France : US$956 million (+21% YoY).
🥈 Italy : US$191 million (+14% YoY).
🥉 Chile : US$139 million (-18% YoY).
Market trend : “Japan’s wine market is heavily tilted to drinkers with age above 55 years old due to its population structure” Vino Joy
Hong Kong 2021 Key figures
Wine import value : US$1.3 billion
Evolution VS 2020: +41%
Top exporters to Hong Kong :
🥇 France : US$834 million (+34% YoY).
🥈 Australia : US$244 million (+131% YoY).
🥉 UK : US$139 million (+24% YoY).
Market trend : Sudden surge due to anti-dumping tariff on Australian wines in China, and more relaxed social distancing rules.
Mainland China 2021 Key figures
Wine import value : US$ 1.724 billion
Evolution VS 2020: -13%
Top exporters to mainland China :
🥇 France : US$753 million (+48% YoY).
🥈 Chile : US$332 million (+50% YoY).
🥉 Italy : US$165 million (+43% YoY).
Market trend : The small decline is mainly due to the country’s ‘Zero-Covid policy’, which impose strict lockdown measures whenever a surge of Covid cases emerges. Thereby, the on-premises wine consumption and the wine trade fairs suffered in 2021.
