Asia Defies the Global Wine Slump: 9 Markets Ranked by Import Growth

No. 8: India

Import volume: 2,508,408 liters, down 3%
Import value: US$13.67 million, up 15.91%
Imports per capita: About US$0.009

India is the world’s most populous country, but its enormous population has yet to translate into wine import demand on a comparable scale. Among the nine markets examined, India ranks second from the bottom by import value, ahead of only Cambodia.

That is closely linked to the country’s relatively low per capita income. According to World Bank data, India’s GDP per capita stood at about US$2,703 in 2025, placing it among lower-middle-income economies. Relatively expensive discretionary products such as wine therefore remain concentrated among middle- and higher-income consumers, limiting the size of the addressable market.

India’s alcohol market has also long been dominated by whisky, rum and beer, which have broader consumer bases and more developed domestic markets. Wine, by comparison, remains a niche category. Despite India’s vast pool of potential consumers, widespread wine adoption remains a distant prospect.

Per capita import figures underscore that reality. In the first half of 2026, India imported only about US$0.009 worth of wine per person — less than one cent and even below Cambodia. It was the lowest per capita figure among all nine markets.

More notably, wine imports have not expanded at a pace commensurate with India’s economic growth. In 2025, both import volume and value increased, but total import value was only slightly above its 2021 level and remained below 2022. Despite India’s relatively rapid economic expansion in recent years, that growth has yet to translate into a comparable rise in wine consumption.

For international wineries, India’s attraction therefore lies more in its enormous population and long-term potential than in its current market size. Low per capita consumption, a drinking culture dominated by spirits and complex state-level alcohol regulations remain significant obstacles for wine brands seeking to establish themselves in the country.

For full analysis of India’s wine market, click here.