According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, China purchased more wines from Chile, its second-largest import partner, in the first five months of 2021.
From January to May, the country imported Chilean wine products worth US$138.5 million, a 47 percent rise over the same time the previous year.
It ordered $27.1 million worth of Chilean wines in May alone, down from $30.4 million in April.
It mostly purchased bottled still wines in quantities of less than 2 liters, which saw a 42 percent increase in sales to US$110.2 million from the previous year.
China placed a $70.8 million order for 70 percent more bottled still wines in containers larger than 10 liters.
The importing country has more than doubled its supply of bottled still wines in containers larger than 2 liters but smaller than 10 liters, bringing the total value of the shipment to US$364,940.
Furthermore, the price of imported Chilean sparkling wines increased by 18% to US$82,809.
Chilean wine exports to China fell by more than a quarter to US$185.6 million in 2020, owing to trade interruptions induced by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the two countries signed a free trade agreement in 2006, China has become Chile’s largest wine export market, with shipments increasing five-fold to US$250 million.
Currently, 201 Latin American wineries export their products to China, with 20 of them having offices there.
| Wine Category | 2020 | 2021 | % Change |
| Sparkling Wine | $70,439 | $82,809 | +17.6% |
| Bottled still wines in containers of less than 2 liters | $77,777,082 | $110,218,773 | +41.7% |
| Bottled still wines in containers of greater than 2 liters but less than 10 liters | $159,948 | $364,940 | +128.2% |
| Bottled still wines in containers of greater than 10 liters | $16,393,966 | $27,848,134 | +69.8% |
