The lifting of trade tariffs by China triggered a surge in Australian wine exports last year, but it is unclear whether Chinese demand will remain strong after buyers have restocked, an industry body said on Wednesday.

The value of Australian wine exports surged by 34 per cent in 2024, as the return of the lucrative Chinese market offset falling demand across the rest of the world.

Chinese wine consumption is much lower than it was before the import tariffs were imposed’, said a researcher for Wine Australia.

The growth in export value was largely driven by a surge in shipments to mainland China, following the removal of tariffs on Australian bottled wine at the end of March last year.