Wine imports into Germany have undergone a notable transformation during the first half of 2025, according to data from German customs analyzed by the Spanish Wine Interprofessional Association (OIVE).
While the value of Germany’s wine purchases increased significantly, the overall volume of imports declined — a trend that reflects a shift toward higher-quality and higher-priced wines.
Higher Value, Lower Volume
Between January and June 2025, Germany imported EUR 1,294.85 million worth of wine, a 7.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 — equivalent to EUR 85.4 million more. However, the imported volume fell by 0.8%, reaching 647.2 million liters, or 9.3 million liters less.
The average price per liter rose by 7.9%, reaching EUR 2.00 per liter. This marks a continuation of Germany’s long-term trend of premiumization, as consumers increasingly prefer quality over quantity.
Bulk vs. Packaged: A Clear Divide
The overall decline in imported volume is largely attributed to the drop in bulk wine purchases, which fell by 4.1% in volume and 1.5% in value, to EUR 241.65 million and 356.1 million liters, respectively. Nonetheless, the average bulk wine price increased by 2.7%, to EUR 0.68 per liter, indicating a modest shift toward slightly higher-quality bulk products.
In contrast, packaged wine imports — which include sparkling wines, bottled still wines, and Bag-in-Box (BiB) — saw a 9.2% increase in value and a 3.5% increase in volume, reaching EUR 1,053.2 million and 291.1 million liters.
The average packaged wine price rose 5.6%, to EUR 3.62 per liter, showing stronger consumer interest in bottled and branded wines.
Breakdown by Wine Type
- Sparkling wine: +8.4% in value (EUR 206.2 million)
- Bottled still wine: +9.4% in value (EUR 819 million)
- Bag-in-Box wine: +11.5% in value (EUR 27.9 million)
- Bulk wine: -1.5% in value (EUR 241.7 million)
In terms of volume, packaged wines increased by 3.5% overall, led by bottled wines (+3.6%) and BiB (+10%), while sparkling wine decreased slightly (-1.6%) and bulk wine fell (-4.1%).
Packaged wines now represent 63.3% of total import value and 38.4% of total volume — underlining Germany’s growing appetite for finished, higher-quality wines rather than bulk shipments.
Main Suppliers: Italy and France Dominate, Spain Leads in Volume
Italy remains Germany’s largest supplier by value, with EUR 525.4 million in the first half of 2025 — an 11% increase over the previous year. France follows with EUR 360.6 million, showing the highest growth rate at 14.2%.
In terms of volume, Spain still leads with 225.2 million liters, despite a 2.8% decrease, followed closely by Italy (224.6 million liters, +2.4%) and France (82.8 million liters, +5.85%).
Spain’s position, however, reveals a dual trend:
- Bottled wine exports to Germany fell 5.41% in value to EUR 113.3 million, and 14.36% in volume to 50.4 million liters.
- Yet bulk wine exports strengthened Spain’s lead, with EUR 87 million in value and 174.82 million liters, maintaining its top position in this segment.
Austria Gains Momentum
While Italy, France, and Spain continue to dominate, Austria recorded the largest growth among Germany’s suppliers, up 15.5% during the first half of 2025. This increase aligns with the rising international recognition of Austrian wines, particularly Grüner Veltliner and premium sparkling wines under the Sekt Austria label.
Pricing Trends and Premiumization
The average prices paid by Germany highlight a clear differentiation among suppliers and categories:
- Packaged wines: EUR 3.62 per liter
- Bulk wines: EUR 0.68 per liter
- Overall average: EUR 2.00 per liter
By origin:
- Italian wines rose 8.5% in average price
- French wines rose 7.92%
- Spanish wines rose modestly, from EUR 0.88 to EUR 0.89 per liter (+1.2%)
These figures confirm that Germany is importing less wine but of higher value, reflecting both inflationary effects and a consumer preference shift toward premium, sustainable, and regionally distinctive wines.
Long-Term Perspective
Since 2020, all wine types except bulk wine have shown positive annual growth rates in value:
- Sparkling wine: +7.7%
- Packaged still wine: +0.35%
- Bag-in-Box: +10.5%
- Bulk wine: -1.3%
In terms of volume, Bag-in-Box continues to outperform (+9.1% annually), while sparkling wines remain stable (+0.3%), and bottled still wines show a slight decline (-0.9%).
Conclusion
Germany’s wine import dynamics in 2025 underline an increasingly sophisticated market. Consumers are prioritizing quality, authenticity, and packaging appeal over volume. For exporting countries, especially Spain, this signals the need to focus on value-added bottled wines rather than relying heavily on bulk exports.
With Italy and France leading the way and Austria gaining traction, the German market continues to evolve toward premiumization — a trend likely to shape European wine trade for years to come.
Source: Vinetur