Chile’s bottled wine exports opened the year with weaker results, reflecting ongoing adjustments in global wine demand and shifting dynamics across international markets.
According to industry data from Corporación Chilena del Vino (Corpo), export shipments in January totaled 3.7 million cases, representing a 12.5% decline in volume compared with the same month last year. Export value also decreased, falling 9.3% year-on-year to USD 105.4 million.
Despite the lower shipments, one positive indicator emerged: the average price per case increased by 3.6%, rising from USD 27.40 in January 2025 to USD 28.40 in January 2026. This suggests that while overall demand weakened, there was relatively stronger performance in higher-value wines.
Mixed Performance Across Key Export Markets
The performance of Chilean bottled wine exports varied significantly across international markets. Japan led purchases during January, while Canada continued its positive trend, benefiting in part from trade tensions affecting wines from the United States.
Several other markets also showed growth during the month, including the Netherlands, Ireland, and Colombia, which increased their imports of Chilean wine. However, several major markets recorded declines.
Among the most notable decreases was Brazil, which had previously been one of the strongest drivers of Chilean export growth. Purchases also dropped in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and South Korea, reflecting softer demand and continued pressure in key global wine markets. The decline in China was particularly pronounced, suggesting that the recovery of this once-critical market remains uncertain.
Annual Export Performance Shows Continued Pressure
Looking at the broader picture, Chile exported 45.5 million cases of bottled wine over the past twelve months, with a total value of USD 1.251 billion. Compared to the previous twelve-month period, this represents a 3.2% decrease in volume and a 4.2% decline in value.
The average export price over the year slipped slightly by 1.1%, settling at approximately USD 27.50 per case. This indicates that the sector continues to face pressure from lower demand and price competition in many markets.
Brazil Remains the Largest Destination
Despite its decline in January, Brazil remains the leading destination for Chilean bottled wine, accounting for 18% of export volume and 16% of total value so far this year.
Following Brazil are the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, each representing roughly 9% of Chile’s bottled wine exports. Among the major markets, Canada stands out as the only one showing clear growth, with imports increasing by nearly 20% compared to the previous year. This growth has been partially linked to trade tensions affecting US wines, which have created opportunities for alternative suppliers such as Chile.
Ireland also recorded an increase in value, although the volume of imports remained stable. Most other markets within the top ten destinations experienced declines.
Differences in Average Prices by Market
There are also notable differences in the average price per case across export destinations. Over the past twelve months, China remains the highest-priced market, with an average value of USD 34.3 per case.
It is followed by South Korea (USD 33.3), Canada (USD 33.2), and the Netherlands (USD 30.4). Several markets have also recorded increases in their average price levels compared with the previous year.
For example, the United Kingdom saw prices rise by 4.6%, while China increased by 1.4%, the Netherlands by 5%, and Ireland by 3.2%. In contrast, average prices declined in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, while Brazil, Canada, and Mexico remained largely stable.
Premium Wines Show Stronger Growth
An analysis by price segment highlights an important trend: premium wines performed significantly better than lower-priced categories in January.
Exports of wines priced between USD 40 and USD 50 per case grew by almost 40% in both volume and value, while wines in the USD 50 to USD 60 range increased by more than 30%. These gains contrast sharply with the broader market decline.
Most other segments experienced reductions, particularly wines priced between USD 20 and USD 30 per case, which recorded the largest drop—20% in volume and 19% in value.
Although wines priced above USD 50 per case represented only 6% of exported volume, they accounted for 19% of total export value, highlighting the growing importance of premium categories for Chilean producers.
Canada Leads Demand for High-Value Wines
Within the premium segment, Canada emerged as the main destination, showing strong growth compared with January of the previous year. Increased demand was also recorded in South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Mexico.
However, several major markets reduced purchases of higher-priced Chilean wines, including Brazil, China, the United States, and Germany.
Twelve-Month Trends by Price Segment
Looking at the full twelve-month period, only one price category showed clear growth: wines priced between USD 40 and USD 50 per case, which increased by 4–5% in both volume and value.
Other segments declined. Wines priced between USD 30 and USD 40 per case fell by about 10%, while the most expensive wines—those priced above USD 60 per case—declined by 3.2% in volume and 7.8% in value.
Over the past year, Chile exported approximately 2.6 million cases of wines priced above USD 50 per case, worth around USD 248 million. Although this represents just 6% of total export volume, it accounts for about 20% of the total value, demonstrating the strategic importance of premium wines for Chile’s export economy.
Within this segment, Brazil remains the largest market, where the value of sales continues to increase even though volumes have remained stable. China holds second place despite recent declines, while Canada and Denmark have shown positive growth over the past year.
A Market in Transition
Overall, Chile’s bottled wine exports reflect a global wine market undergoing structural changes. While total shipments have declined, premium wines are showing resilience and gaining a greater share of export value.
For Chilean producers, the challenge moving forward will be to strengthen positions in key markets while continuing to develop higher-value wines, which appear to offer the most promising opportunities in an increasingly competitive international wine landscape.
Source: Vinetur