Spanish wine exports delivered a mixed performance in the first nine months of 2025, according to figures from the Spanish Tax Agency analysed by the Spanish Wine Interprofessional Organization (OIVE).
While export volume remained stable, total export value declined slightly, highlighting diverging trends among product categories and deep contrasts between Spain’s wine-producing regions.
Between January and September 2025, Spain exported 2,062.2 million litres of wine and related products, a marginal rise of 0.2%, while the total export value slipped by 0.8%, reaching EUR 2,550.4 million.
Diverging Trends Across Wine Categories
Export performance varied significantly depending on product type:
-
Wine (excluding must, vinegar, and aromatized wine)
• -2.2% in value
• -0.8% in volume
Bottled wine continues to face global demand pressure and heightened competition. -
Must
• +8.9% in value
• +2.9% in volume
Must remains a strong export driver for Spain, especially in bulk form. -
Vinegar
• +6.3% in value
• +3.6% in volume -
Aromatized wines
• -4.9% in value
• -3.4% in volume
This category continues a downward trend influenced by shifting consumer preferences.
These figures show that derived products such as must and vinegar provided a cushion against the decline in bottled wine, which remains the sector’s most valuable but also most exposed product.
Castilla-La Mancha Strengthens Its Dominance
Castilla-La Mancha reaffirmed its position as Spain’s export powerhouse:
- EUR 724.6 million in export value (+2.1%)
- 1.101 billion litres exported (+1.7%)
- 28% of total Spanish export value
- 53% of total Spanish exported volume
The region posted the largest absolute gains in both value (+EUR 14.7 million) and volume (+18.5 million litres). Its leadership is driven mainly by bulk wine, as well as the strong performance of must and vinegar.
Mixed Outcomes Across Other Key Regions
Valencian Community
- 281.1 million litres (+5.1%)
-
EUR 265.8 million (+4.3%)
Strong growth places Valencia as Spain’s second exporter by volume.
Catalonia
- EUR 426 million (-4.3%)
-
117 million litres (-10.8%)
Despite shrinking volume, Catalonia remains the second-highest in export value, supported by a high average price of EUR 3.64/litre thanks to premium DO wines and cava.
La Rioja
- EUR 200.2 million (-14.1%)
-
59.8 million litres (-18.5%)
La Rioja suffered the largest absolute revenue decline (-EUR 33 million) and significant volume losses, reflecting ongoing challenges in key export markets for premium bottled wines.
Other regions with positive performance
- Murcia: +EUR 7.5 million
- Andalusia: +EUR 6.6 million
- Extremadura: +EUR 5.5 million
- Castile and León: +EUR 5.3 million
Regions facing major declines
- Madrid: -16% value; -36% volume
- Aragon: -12% value; -13% volume
Provincial Breakdown: Ciudad Real Leads the Country
Top performers
Ciudad Real is Spain’s undisputed leader:
- EUR 422.7 million (+4.8%)
- 628.4 million litres (+5.4%)
-
16.6% of national value and 30.5% of volume
It also showed the highest growth in both value (+EUR 19.5 million) and volume (+32.4 million litres).
Other strong performers:
- Toledo: +EUR 9.6 million; +15.6 million litres
- Valencia: +EUR 8.7 million; +10.3 million litres
- Murcia: +EUR 7.4 million; +7.7 million litres
Provinces with the steepest declines
- La Rioja: -EUR 33 million
- Albacete: -EUR 18.9 million / -30.8 million litres
- Barcelona: -EUR 14.2 million
- Madrid: -EUR 9.9 million
- Zaragoza: -EUR 6.7 million
Barcelona and La Rioja fall sharply in volume due to their focus on high-value DO wines, which have been more heavily affected by global market shifts.
A Sector Divided: Stability in Volume, Pressure on Value
The overall picture for 2025 reveals:
- Stable export volumes, sustained by bulk and derived products
- A slight decline in total value, driven largely by weaknesses in bottled wine
- Strong disparities among regions and provinces
- Premium wine regions under pressure while bulk-wine regions gain ground
These contrasting dynamics underline deeper structural changes in international markets: rising competition, price sensitivity, and the growing importance of alternative products such as must and vinegar.
Looking Ahead: Adapting Spain’s Export Strategy
The Spanish wine sector enters the final stretch of 2025 needing to reinforce its competitive advantages:
- Premium wine regions must boost marketing, origin value, and international positioning.
- Bulk-wine powerhouses should continue capitalizing on global demand for cost-efficient products.
- Export strategies will require greater diversification across markets and product types.
As the data show, Spain’s wine export landscape is far from homogeneous. The ability to adapt to shifting market conditions—especially in high-value segments—will determine the sector’s resilience and growth in the coming years.
Source: Vinetur