9 Aug 2008

Australian wine exports slump

8:03 am on 9 August 2008

Australian wine exports slumped by more than 100 million litres, or 13%, in the past financial year.

Figures from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation show the total volume of sales dropped from about 806 million litres to almost 704 million.

It represents a drop in export value of about $A460 million.

The ABC reports the decline is blamed on a smaller harvest, the stronger Australian dollar and a sluggish economy in the United States, where sales fell by almost 25%.

The United Kingdom is still Australia's top wine export destination despite a nine per cent drop in sales.

Sales are increasing to Denmark, The Netherlands, China and Hong Kong.