Burgundy exports soar in Hong Kong and Asia, but let down by poor sales in traditional European markets
Worldwide exports of Burgundy wines stabilised last year, though posted strong growth in Hong Kong, one of the key export market for the French region.
In 2018 exports of Burgundian wines inched up by 0.2% in volume, the equivalent of almost 82.3 million bottles. Turnover, meanwhile, increased by 3.6% to €939.8 million during the period, according to the latest figures released by the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB).
While exports to China dropped by over 10% in terms of volume, value was up by 9.9%. Japan, a traditionally strong market for Burgundy, suffered moderate drops in volume of 3.2% and 1.5% in value. Hong Kong however was the region responsible for driving much of the growth in Asia, and saw exports up by 8.8% in terms of volume and rocket by 24.5% in terms of value.
North America is another region experiecing also strong growth, with Canada in particular up by 9.5% in volume and up 8% in value last year versus 2017, while the US was up 3.8% in volume and 2.2% in value.
Scandinavian exports surged ahead, up by 12.9% in volume and 13.2% in terms of revenue, while Finland put in a notably strong performance, up by 14% in terms of volume and 2.7% in revenue.
Australia, which is a developing market for Burgundian wine, also posted good growth, up by 11% in volume and 9.9% in value. However, these strongly performing regions were undermined by exports to the traditional European markets, with sales in the UK dropping by 8.8% in volume and 4.3% in revenue, Germany down 2.6% in volume and up 1.4% in revenue, and Switzerland also down 6.7% in volume but up 10.7% in value.
For white wines, the ‘Régionale Bourgogne’ appellations were in rude health, up 3.8% in volume and with total revenue of €105.4 million, up 11% versus 2017.
The Régionale appellations of the Mâconnais moved up in volume by 1%, with volume, up 1%, with a value 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.
As 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 nearly three quarters (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 value, the Grand Cru AOCs of the Côtes de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits also recorded growth, up 4% over 2017, the same as the Village AOCs of the Auxerrois-Tonnerrois over the same period, which were up 11.3% on 2017.
Crémant de Bourgogne wines also put in a good showing, up 1.4% in terms of volume and 3.5% in terms of revenue compared to the previous year.