UK's bulk wine imports oustrip those of bottled for first time ever

For the first time the UK’s purchases of bulk wines has oustripped that of bottled wine, according to the Bulk Wine Club.    

In September this year, 61.3m litres of wine were bought, an yearly increase of nearly a third (31.5%), compared to 60 million litres of bottled still wine, (a 3.5% increase).  

And sales have increased across the board, from all supplying countries, though in terms of volume, Australia is in pole position, accounting for 15m helctolitres, a 3.7% increase, followed by the US (0.94hl, up by 8.5%).   New Zealand was the third largest bulk wine supplier to the UK, with volumes up by 12.7%, though Chile enjoyed one of the biggest sales increases, to the UK, up by nearly a quarter (+23.8%) while South Africa saw its volumes increase by 3.4%.  

New Zealand bulk wine commands the highest prices of any supplying nation, with  an average price of £2.09, far in excess of Chile which recorded an average price of 89p, and South Africa at only 65p per litre.    

Argentinian bulk wine has also become a notable player in the UK market, emerging as the sixth largest supplier with sales surging by 92% in terms of volume and 70% in value, at an average price of £1.09 pounds/litre.    

In value terms, however, the US is the top supplier of bulk wine to the UK, with a value of £124m, and an average price of £1.33 per litre compared to Australia’s £0.81 pre litre.    

During the first nine months of 2020 bulk wine was the wine category that enjoyed the biggest growth in volume in the UK, up by 10.7%, while it was also the only sector to see an increase in value terms (up by 14.3%, with prices slightly up from £1 to £1.03 per litre).  

The top six major bulk wine suppliers for the UK are all New World countries, and represent the vast majority (93%) of overall purchases up to September. All of the supplying countires saw volumes grow but only South Africa saw itss value increase.