The Top 5 Wine Consuming Countries (by volume)

  Country Wine Consumption
(9 litre cases)
% Change
(from 2007)
% of World Consumption
1 United States 333.05 million
(9-litre cases)
+ 10.17% 11.59%
2 France 300.92 million
(9-litre cases)
- 7.13% 10.47%
3 Italy 299.59 million
(9-litre cases)
- 2.51% 10.42%
4 Germany 285.75 million
9-litre cases)
- 2.73% 9.94%
5 China 177.06 million
9-litre cases)
+ 143.82% 6.16%
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 Special Report
  1. Nearly 2 billion extra bottles of wine will be consumed in the world between 2011 and 2015. In 2010, total world wine consumption reached 2.640 billion 9-litre cases, equivalent to 31.68 billion bottles, a 4.5% increase compared to 2006. Forecasts show an increase of 6.17% in the consumption growth rate of wine between 2011 and 2015, reaching 2.844 billion cases of wine by the end of the period. (a.)
  2. In 2011, the United States became the leading wine market worldwide. The U.S. was already the leading market in terms of retail wine sales, but has now also become the largest market by volume. Having consumed 311.3 million 9-litre cases of wine, equivalent to 3.735 billion bottles of wine in 2011, the U.S. became the largest wine consumer market in the world, taking over from Italy and France, respectively the second and third largest wine markets in 2011. According to the VINEXPO study’s 5-year forecasts, American wine consumption should continue to grow by 10% between 2011 and 2015. (a.)
  3. Chinese consumption reached 156.19 million 9-litre cases in 2011, putting China in 5th place of the top 5 wine consuming nations worldwide, ahead of the UK. In just one year between 2009 and 2010, wine consumption, including still, light and sparkling wines grew by 33.4% in China, Hong Kong included. In the 5-year period from 2006 to 2010, Chinese wine consumption including Hong Kong was multiplied by 2.4. The VINEXPO study forecasts a further 54.25% rise between 2011 and 2015. By then, Chinese consumers should be drinking an average of 1.9 to 2 litres of wine per-capita per year, while French and Italian average yearly consumption per of-age adult is expected to be around 50 litres by 2015. Americans should be consuming an average of 13 litres per-capita per year by the same date. China is also the 6th largest wine-producing country in the world and the 8th largest importer by volume. (a.)
  4. Asia will account for more than half (53.7%) of the growth in wine consumption worldwide between 2011 and 2015. Over the same period, Europe, which nevertheless represents 62% of world wine consumption, should only experience limited growth of 0.41%, while America is expected to increase its consumption of wine by 10%. (a.) The U.S. wine market is one of the fastest growing markets of the world, both in terms of production and consumption. It has expanded rapidly over the past few years on the back of increased consumption, government support, on-line wine purchasing and a growing young population. The U.S. wine market will continue growing at a rapid pace in coming years. (c.)
  5. Globally, the two countries that are leading the wine production and consumption businesses are France and Italy. However, the irony is that these two countries are also witnessing a steady erosion of their global market share. These markets are also predicted to continue losing their market share of global consumption from 50% in 1975 to just 25% by 2010. (a.)
Top 5 facts sources:
  1. VINEXPO Industry Economic Study. (2012). "Current trends in the international wine and spirits market and outlook to 2016." Retrieved April, 2013.
  2. California Wine Export Program. (2007). "Analysis of Global Wine Imports and Wine Imports in Selected Countries". Retrieved December, 2010.
  3. Research And Markets. (2010). "US Wine Market Forecast to 2012" Retrieved December, 2010.
Tags: Business, Finance & Industry, Food & Drink, China, The United States

Sources:  Vinexpo Report: Current trends in the international wine and spirits market and outlook to 2016.

List Notes: Data is top 5 wine consumption by country in 9 litre cases for the year 2012. Percent change in world wine consumption is from the years 2007 to 2012.
Wine Consuming Countries <small>(by volume)</small>

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