Media Release: Pouring investment into growing wine exports

The Coalition Government has popped the cork on a $50 million, three year plan to increase the value of wine exports up to a record $3.5 billion and promote wine tourism in regional communities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, today launched the Export and Regional Wine Support Package, designed to deliver the largest and most sustainable export growth and strongest support for increased international wine tourism.

“Australia’s wine industry has enjoyed significant growth in recent years on the back of the Coalition’s market access gains, with our wine exports forecast to exceed 800 million litres and $2.5 billion in 2017–18,” Minister Joyce said.

“This package aims to build on this, delivering up to 8 per cent per annum value growth across all export markets to 2021–22, including 15 to 17 per cent in China and 6 per cent in the US.

“At home the package will help to attract up to 40,000 more international tourists to visit our world-renowned wine regions, and take the great Australian wine tour, by 2019-20, delivering an estimated $170 million to the economy.”

The package includes four distinct programs, including:

• a more than eight-fold increase in investment for marketing campaigns in the US and China, 
• building the capability and capacity of grape and wine businesses to capture export and tourism opportunities, including a wine exports grants scheme for current and new exporters to China and the US,
• state-based and competitive grants to develop exciting wine tourism experiences and attract international tourists, and
• transforming cider businesses by building knowledge of potential export markets and developing improved understanding for accessing these markets. 

“The package is part of a suite of measures to reform the Wine Equalisation Tax rebate scheme, following extensive consultation with the wine industry,” Minister Ruston said.

“Our wine industry was already in a strong position, with tariff reductions from the China Australia Free Trade Agreement leading to China overtaking the US as the most valuable destination for Australian wine.

“This investment is ensuring we will capitalise on this and drive further growth.

“I'm looking forward to the industry taking ownership of it and making it work not only for their benefit and our economy, but also for the regional communities in which many of them operate."

The package will be managed by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA), working closely with industry.

For more information visit https://www.wineaustralia.com/whats-happening/export-and-regional-wine-support-package

Fast facts

• Australian wine exports are forecast to top 800 megalitres, with a value of more than $2.5 billion in 2017–18, supported by strong demand for Australian wine in China and the United States.
• Australian wine producers have enjoyed excellent outcomes under the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement, with exports to China increasing from $364 million in 2015 to $516 million in 2016.