Taiwan’s wine imports remained sluggish in the first half of 2025, continuing the downward trend that began in 2024, as shown by the newly released trade data from the Ministry of Finance’s Customs Administration.
Broad-Based Decline Across Categories and Origins
From January to June, Taiwan imported 7.98 million litres of wine, down 10.8% compared to the same period last year. The total value of wine imports also dropped 7.9% year-on-year to US$109 million.
All major wine categories—including still, sparkling, and boxed wines—posted varying degrees of decline. The only segment to register growth was the “other” category, which includes bulk wine. However, the increase was marginal, given the low base of just 72,700 litres, meaning even a slight uptick could skew the figures.
By country, imports from major suppliers such as France, the United States, Australia, Spain, Chile, New Zealand, and Argentina all saw declines in both volume and value, pointing to weak consumer demand and a market that has yet to stabilise.
Taiwan’s wine market trend closely mirrors that of South Korea. Both saw surges in alcohol consumption during the pandemic, with Taiwan’s wine imports growing steadily from 2020 to 2022. But since 2023, the market has entered a period of correction, and the downturn has now extended into the first half of this year.
France Maintains Premium Edge with Highest Unit Price
Despite the overall slump, France remains the dominant player in Taiwan’s wine market. French wines accounted for 25.67% of total import volume but an outsized 60.07% share of total import value—underscoring the high-end nature of the wines being shipped.
The average import price of French wine reached US$32.05 per litre—the highest among Taiwan’s top ten wine suppliers. This figure far exceeds the average price of French wines imported into mainland China (US$12.42/litre) and South Korea (US$18.16/litre), confirming France’s positioning at the premium end of the Taiwanese market.
The U.S. also performed well in the premium segment. Although American wines ranked behind Italy, Spain, Australia, and Chile in volume (461,100 litres), they came second only to France in value, with imports totalling US$11.14 million. The average import price of American wine was US$24.16 per litre, trailing only France.
German Wines Defy the Downturn
Germany stood out as the only major exporter to post significant growth. In the first half of 2025, Taiwan’s imports of German wine surged 51.73% by volume and 27.28% by value. Known for its Riesling, Germany’s rise may signal growing consumer interest in white wines across the island.
In contrast, imports from Italy and South Africa showed a pattern of rising volumes but falling unit prices, suggesting that more mid- to entry-level wines from these countries are entering the market. While this has expanded their market share, it has come at the expense of average price points.
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