According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) in its State of the World Wine Sector in 2025 report, China’s wine industry faced another challenging year. Almost all key indicators – vineyard area, production, consumption, and imports – recorded declines, making China one of the hardest‑hit major markets globally.

Vineyard area: stable but no expansion

China’s total vineyard area stabilised at approximately 733,000 hectares in 2025, ranking third in the world after Spain and France. However, this figure represents an OIV estimate (shown in italics) and has changed little from recent years, following a long period of rapid growth between 2000 and 2015.

Wine production: continued shrinkage

Chinese wine production fell sharply by 17.8% year‑on‑year to an estimated 2.2 million hectolitres (mhl). This is a dramatic drop from the country’s peak in 2012, when China was the world’s fifth‑largest producer. The sustained decline reflects weak domestic demand and a structural shift towards higher‑end products with a narrower consumer base.

Consumption: persistent weakness

Wine consumption in China continued its downward trend, falling by an estimated 6.8% in 2025. The OIV explicitly noted that “China recorded the largest contraction” among major consuming nations, with an average annual drop of about 2 mhl since 2018. In the global ranking, China slipped to eighth place, overtaken by countries such as Portugal and Russia in per‑capita terms.

Imports: the steepest drop among leading importers

Perhaps the most striking figure is China’s wine import performance. Total imports plunged by 26.7% in volume (to 2.1 mhl) and 14.6% in value (to €1.258 billion) in 2025. Among the world’s top wine importers (countries with imports ≥2 mhl), China recorded the largest volume decline. Bottled wine (<2L) still dominated imports, accounting for 64% of volume and 91% of value, but its volume fell by 19.6% and value by 14.1% compared to 2024. Bulk wine imports collapsed by nearly 40% in volume.

By contrast, the only major importers showing growth in 2025 were Belgium (+1.4% in volume) and Portugal (+8.4%). Germany, the largest importer (12.9 mhl), saw a modest –0.6% change, while the United States and the United Kingdom also posted declines of 2.0% and 6.0% respectively – far smaller than China’s double‑digit slump.

Outlook

The OIV report highlights that China’s sustained downturn has had a material impact on global wine consumption and trade. While the country remains the world’s third‑largest vineyard area holder and a top‑ten consumer, its market continues to struggle with changing consumer habits, economic headwinds, and a shift away from traditional wine culture. The upcoming 45th World Congress of Vine and Wine to be held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, in October 2026 may offer a platform to re‑engage with Chinese consumers and producers, but a near‑term recovery appears uncertain.

Source: OIV, State of the World Wine Sector in 2025 (May 2026).