Wine export value increases despite a decline in export volumes

While South African wine exports declined in 2023, export value increased, according to the recent South African Wine Export Report, writes Glenneis Kriel.

- Glenneis Kriel

South African wine exports declined 17% in 2023 to 306 million litres but export value increased from R9,9 billion to R10 billion, according to the South African Wine Export Report recently issued by Wines of South Africa and South African Wine Industry Statistics.

To put this in perspective, export volumes declined 5% to 368 million litres in 2022, after increasing 22% to 388 million litres in 2021.

Volumes of all the wine categories were down in 2023, except for the Other Single Red Cultivar category, which increased 11% to 4,4 million litres; the Dry Red category, which increased 4% to 11,6 million litres; and the Other Red category, which increased 20% to 11,5 million litres.

In terms of rand per litre, however, the value of all the categories increased, except for the Other Red category, which declined 1%. The value of the Other Single White Varieties category increased 83%; those of Dry Whites 46%; Blanc de Noir/Rosé 32% and White Blends 22%. Sparkling Wine and Cape Classique values increased by 16% and 17% respectively.