Australian wine exports to China to be boosted
Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, has this week signed two memoranda of understanding on wine exports, in Hong Kong and Beijing.
In the year to March 2009, Australian wine exports to China were worth $81.2 million - the largest Asian market for Australian wine.
In the same year, more than 5.6 million litres of wine were exported to Hong Kong, valued at $40.7 million.
Mr Burke says the China agreement will establish a single point of contact to address market access issues such as certification and labelling.
"In a country the size of China, a single window to government will make it easier for the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation to help exporters ship wine to this important market," Mr Burke says.
Hong Kong is being established as a wine hub for Asia and in the year to March alone Australian wine exports to Hong Kong grew by more than 21 per cent.
"As the consumption of wine grows throughout Asia, Australia is set to enjoy an increasing share of that growth," Mr Burke said.
"Australia will also benefit through the establishment of a single contact point for addressing market access issues.
"The agreement will also help to lift the profile of Australian wine in Hong Kong."
Mr Burke also hosted a successful promotional dinner for Australian wine and meat in Shanghai, involving local business and government officials.
"I was delighted to be able to showcase the quality and range of Australian produce to leading importers and wine writers in China," Mr Burke reports.
China is Australia’s eighth largest market for wine by volume and fifth largest by value.
Hong Kong is Australia’s 13th largest market for wine by volume and 12th largest by value.
The Australian wine industry includes 2,200 winemakers, supported by 8,000 grape growers in 112 distinct geographic wine regions.