Spain was able to increase its wine export turnover by 1.4% to €2.978bn last year, although the export volume fell by 5% to 1.935m liters. In absolute figures, this represents an additional revenue of €41m and a sales decline of 101m liters compared to 2023. This makes 2024 the second strongest year ever in terms of sales after the record set in 2022 with €3.003bn, while in terms of volume, you have to go back to 2013 to find a lower value. This was reported by the winegrowers' association Interprofesional del Vino de España (OIVE) based on the annual evaluation of the Spanish Observatory for the Wine Market (OeMv).
Of all the categories examined, only the turnover of fortified wines decreased (-6.3%), while it increased in all others. Bottled wines without a protected designation of origin increased the most in value (+€22.6m). In terms of volume, only wines in bag-in-box increased (+3.8m liters), while exports of bulk wine decreased the most (-79.3m liters). In 2024, bottled wines accounted for 83% of total sales and bulk wines for 55% of the total volume of Spanish wine exports.
Germany and France lead in bulk wine
In terms of target markets, Germany remains number one in terms of value with €396m (-2%), ahead of the UK and the United States. In terms of volume, France continues to lead despite a decline of 7.8% to 509m liters, ahead of Germany (-1%) and Italy. Germany owes this position to its high demand for Spanish bulk wines: Here, Germany has replaced France as the frontrunner, now accounting for 30% of the total volume and 28% of the total turnover.
In bottled wines, on the other hand, the UK maintained its leading position (+1% value, +1.6% volume). Here, Germany ranks 3rd (-6.5%) in terms of value, behind the United States, and 2nd (-6%) in terms of volume, ahead of Portugal. In terms of value per liter imported, Germany ranks only 17th with an average of €0.86 (-1%).
Cava in decline
Catalonia reports major shifts in exports to Germany, where the state agency Prodeca presented figures for 2024 last week. While the wine sector as a whole recorded a slight decline in sales of 0.35% and exports to the USA (+10.4%) and Canada (+7.4%) increased in value, they fell sharply in Germany by minus 36.5%.
The figures for Cava were downright dramatic. In fact, sparkling wines account for a good 62% of the value and 63% of the volume of the Catalan wine sector, of which Cavas account for a good 83% of exports. Here, a slight decline of 0.4% in value and a sharp minus of 13.9% in volume was recorded in 2024. While many important markets were able to increase export value in the double-digit range, it fell by as much as 56.3% in Germany. SP
