Chile overtakes France as top imported wine in Japan

Imports of Chilean wine have surpassed those from France in Japan for the first time, with Chile now the country’s top imported wine by origin.

Imports of Chilean wine jumped 18.1% in 2015 to 51.59 million litres, while French wine imports fell 2.8% to 51.51 million litres, according to data released by the Finance Ministry, as reported by The Japan Times.

Since 2007 imports of Chilean wine in Japan have surged, growing on average 20% year-on-year on the back of an economic partnership that has seen its import tariffs gradually slashed. Tariffs on Chilean wine will be scrapped completely in 2019.

In 2005 Chile was the fifth biggest importer to Japan, rising to second in 2013 when it overtook imports from Italy. Now number one, it is the first time Chilean imports have surpassed those of France, which has long been the country’s most imported wine by origin. According to the Japan Times, a 75cl bottle of Chilean wine in 2015 cost on average ¥602, around 40% lower than the ¥1,029 average for a bottle of French wine.

A further free trade agreement between Japan and Australia will see import tariffs on Australian wine abolished in seven years, while a free trade agreement between Japan and the EU is currently under discussion.