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Philippines Wine Imports by Country

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Imported wine bottle and glass
Imported wine
Philippine wine imports by country totaled US$36.6 million in 2018, up by an overall 47% for all international wine suppliers over the five-year period starting in 2014. Year over year, the value of Filipino-imported wine decreased by -7.2% from 2017 to 2018.

New World wines continue to finish ahead of Old World wines popular among importers in the Philippines. For instance, Filipinos bought $23.5 million worth of New World wines in 2018 from the United States (notably Californian labels), Australia, Chile and South Africa. That dollar amount is more than double the $9.6 million spent on Old World wines imported into the Philippines from Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for fresh grape wine is 2204.

Philippines Wine Imports by Country

Suppliers/Importers

Below are the 15 countries that accounted for the highest dollar value worth of wine imported into the Philippines during 2018.

  1. United States: US$13 million (35.4% of Philippines’ wine imports)
  2. Australia: $6.1 million (16.6%)
  3. Spain: $4.4 million (11.9%)
  4. France: $3.3 million (9%)
  5. Chile: $2.9 million (8%)
  6. Singapore: $1.8 million (5%)
  7. Italy: $1.7 million (4.6%)
  8. South Africa: $1.5 million (4.2%)
  9. Argentina: $433,000 (1.2%)
  10. New Zealand: $390,000 (1.1%)
  11. United Kingdom: $222,000 (0.6%)
  12. Belgium: $171,000 (0.5%)
  13. Germany: $160,000 (0.4%)
  14. China: $120,000 (0.33%)
  15. Switzerland: $117,000 (0.32%)
  16. Denmark: $93,000 (0.25%)
  17. Portugal: $83,000 (0.23%)
  18. Latvia: $52,000 (0.14%)
  19. South Korea: $32,000 (0.09%)
  20. Brazil: $17,000 (0.05%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.1% of all wine imports purchased by the Philippines during 2018.

Among the above wine exporters to the Philippines, the fastest-growing suppliers since 2014 were: South Africa (up 213.8%), China (up 122.2%), United States (up 88.3%), Chile (up 77.4%) then France (up 70.3%).

Philippines cut back on wine purchases from four of its top suppliers over the 5-year period: Portugal (down -64.4%), United Kingdom (down -47.6%), New Zealand (down -34%) and Argentina (down -25%).

Advantages

Not being a major grape-growing nation, the Philippines exports very little wine. However, the Philippines did post positive net exports for wine during 2018 with the 3 trade partners listed below, probably due to re-exporting activity.

Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus that the Philippines earned. In other words, the difference between the value of Filipino wine exports and its import purchases for that same commodity.

    Below are the 3 territories that provided the Philippines with surpluses for wine during 2018.

    1. United Arab Emirates: US$323,000 (net export surplus up 2,592% since 2014)
    2. Vietnam: $12,000 (down -87.1%)
    3. Canada: $7,000 (reversing a -$4,000 deficit)

    The United Arab Emirates propelled the Philippines to its highest surplus victory in the international trade of wine in 2018. This positive cashflow confirms the Philippines competitive advantage trading this specific product category with the UAE–as it does for the other listed trade partners.

Opportunities

Overall, the Philippines incurred a -$36.2 million product trade deficit during 2018 for wine. That dollar amount represents a 46.3% expansion from the -$24.7 million in red ink from trading wine on global markets during 2014.

The Philippines experienced the highest negative net exports for wine trading with the following countries during 2018.

Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of Filipino wine import purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

  1. United States: -US$12.9 million (net export deficit up 87.1% since 2014)
  2. Australia: -$6.1 million (up 33.1%)
  3. Spain: -$4.4 million (up 20.4%)
  4. France: -$3.3 million (up 70.3%)
  5. Chile: -$2.9 million (up 77.4%)
  6. Singapore: -$1.8 million (up 25.7%)
  7. Italy: -$1.7 million (up 35.6%)
  8. South Africa: -$1.5 million (up 213.8%)
  9. Argentina: -$433,000 (down -25%)
  10. New Zealand: -$390,000 (down -34%)
  11. United Kingdom: -$222,000 (down -47.6%)
  12. Belgium: -$171,000 (no 2014 data)
  13. Germany: -$160,000 (up 19.4%)
  14. China: -$120,000 (up 122.2%)
  15. Switzerland: -$117,000 (up 2.6%)

America is the most potent surplus-generator for the Philippines in the international trade of wine. In turn, that negative cashflow highlights the competitive disadvantages the Philippines have for this specific product category. However, it also signals opportunities for wine-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful demand among Filipino consumers.

Resources

The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 10, 2019

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on April 10, 2019

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 10, 2019

Wikipedia, History of Wine. Accessed on April 10, 2019