Market evolution: Still wine in 2-10L containers (CN 220422) — 2015–2025
Introduction
This report examines the EU's trade performance in still wine packaged in containers between 2 and 10 litres (Combined Nomenclature code 220422), covering the period from 2017 to 2025 — the years for which complete annual data is available. This product category encompasses a wide range of non-sparkling wines — from bulk-style bag-in-box formats to mid-range PDO and PGI wines — and is a significant segment of the European wine industry. Over the period under review, the EU consolidated its position as a major net exporter, with its trade surplus more than doubling in value to €151.8 million. Yet behind this headline figure lies a more nuanced story: a dramatic expansion in domestic production, structural shifts in both import sourcing and export destination, and a clear premiumisation trend in EU wine shipments. Three dynamics stand out and form the core of the analysis below.
1. A Trade Surplus That Widened in Value — But Production Grew Even Faster
The EU's trade balance in CN 220422 wine more than doubled over the period
The EU's trade surplus for this product category rose from €74.8 million in 2017 to €151.8 million in 2025, an increase of 103.1%. This was driven by a simultaneous rise in export value (from €123.3 million to €194.6 million, +57.9%) and a decline in import value (from €48.5 million to €42.8 million, −11.7%). In volume terms, exports grew from 72,160 tonnes to 89,610 tonnes (+24.2%), while imports contracted from 32,493 tonnes to 24,965 tonnes (−23.2%).
| Indicator | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exports — value (€ million) | 123.3 | 194.6 | +57.9% |
| Exports — volume (t) | 72,160 | 89,610 | +24.2% |
| Imports — value (€ million) | 48.5 | 42.8 | −11.7% |
| Imports — volume (t) | 32,493 | 24,965 | −23.2% |
| Trade balance (€ million) | 74.8 | 151.8 | +103.1% |
EU production of this wine category surged by 183% — far outpacing export growth
Despite the impressive export figures, the most striking structural change lies in the evolution of EU production. Output in the CN 220422 category rose from 4,655 thousand cubic metres to 13,175 thousand cubic metres (+183.0%) in volume, and from €10.0 billion to €22.3 billion (+122.7%) in value. Because production growth dramatically outpaced export growth, the EU's net import reliance moved from −49.8% to −10.4%, indicating that while the EU remained a net exporter, exports became a progressively smaller share of overall output.
Trade intensity and export propensity both fell sharply
The trade intensity of the category (exports + imports as a share of production) declined from 34.3% to 20.2% (−41.1%), and the export propensity (exports as a share of production) fell even more sharply, from 33.9% to 15.4% (−54.5%). This suggests that the vast majority of the production increase was absorbed by the EU domestic market and intra-EU trade, not by extra-EU exports.
2. A Radically Reshaped Partner Landscape
The United Kingdom's collapse as an import source is the period's most dramatic single shift
Among EU import partners, the most striking development is the near-total disappearance of the United Kingdom as a supplier. UK-origin wine imports in CN 220422 fell from €6.7 million in 2017 to just €72,524 in 2025 — a decline of 98.9%. This almost certainly reflects the consequences of Brexit: the UK left the EU customs union and single market on 1 January 2021, and wine previously traded freely within the EU became a third-country import subject to customs formalities, potential tariffs, and regulatory barriers. Similarly, Argentine wine imports fell from €4.0 million to €484,428 (−87.9%), suggesting supply-chain disruptions or shifting competitiveness.
| Import partner | 2017 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 13.4 | 14.6 | +9.3% |
| Chile | 14.0 | 9.9 | −29.6% |
| United Kingdom | 6.7 | 0.07 | −98.9% |
| Argentina | 4.0 | 0.48 | −87.9% |
| United States | 4.0 | 4.6 | +15.0% |
| North Macedonia | 3.7 | 3.9 | +4.0% |
| Australia | 0.16 | 1.98 | +1,138.3% |
Australia emerged as a rapidly growing supplier, though from a small base
Australian wine imports into the EU surged from €159,893 in 2017 to €1.98 million in 2025 — an increase of over 1,100%. While still a minor supplier in absolute terms, the trajectory is notable and may be linked to Australia's search for alternative markets following the collapse of its trade with China (2020–2024 tariffs), combined with competitive pricing in the mid-range segment. Australian import volumes also grew from 160 tonnes to 1,980 tonnes over the period.
On the export side, the United States, Japan, and Canada were the fastest-growing destinations
EU export growth was driven primarily by markets outside Europe. The United States rose from €13.0 million to €29.0 million (+123.3%), Japan from €4.9 million to €11.1 million (+125.5%), and Canada from €3.9 million to €10.8 million (+175.5%). Norway remained the single largest export destination, growing from €37.3 million to €53.8 million (+44.3%), while the United Kingdom — despite Brexit — saw more modest growth in EU wine exports to it, from €31.9 million to €35.5 million (+11.4%).
| Export partner | 2017 (€M) | 2025 (€M) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 37.3 | 53.8 | +44.3% |
| United Kingdom | 31.9 | 35.5 | +11.4% |
| United States | 13.0 | 29.0 | +123.3% |
| Switzerland | 10.7 | 15.3 | +42.4% |
| Japan | 4.9 | 11.1 | +125.5% |
| Canada | 3.9 | 10.8 | +175.5% |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 0.85 | 3.1 | +264.0% |
Within the EU, Italy overtook France as the leading exporter, while Sweden's import role shrank
Among EU Member States, Italy's exports in this category rose from €30.3 million to €52.9 million (+74.5%), overtaking France (€34.5 million to €48.4 million, +40.2%) as the leading exporter. Spain (+93.1%) and Portugal (+52.2%) also recorded strong growth. On the import side, Sweden — the dominant EU importer — saw its share fall from €33.5 million to €17.6 million (−47.5%), while Denmark surged from €732,047 to €5.9 million (+704.4%).
3. Export Diversification, Premiumisation, and Diverging Price Trends
EU export destinations became more diversified while import origins slightly concentrated
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for EU exports by partner country fell from 1,830 to 1,486 (−18.8% by value), indicating a meaningful reduction in export concentration. The EU reduced its dependence on a handful of traditional Northern European markets (Norway, UK, Switzerland) and expanded into the US, Japan, Canada, and smaller markets. By contrast, the import HHI edged up slightly from 1,990 to 2,095 (+5.3%), reflecting increased reliance on South Africa and Chile as the UK and Argentina fell away.
Export prices rose substantially faster than import prices, signalling premiumisation
The average unit export price climbed from €1,708 per tonne in 2017 to €2,172 per tonne in 2025 (+27.1%), peaking at €2,283 per tonne in 2024. Import prices rose more modestly, from €1,492 per tonne to €1,715 per tonne (+14.9%). The widening price gap — exports averaging €457/t more than imports — points to a clear premiumisation of EU outward shipments, with higher-value PDO and PGI wines gaining share in the export mix.
| Price metric | 2017 (€/t) | 2025 (€/t) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export unit price | 1,708 | 2,172 | +27.1% |
| Import unit price | 1,492 | 1,715 | +14.9% |
| Price gap | 216 | 457 | — |
Within exports, PDO and PGI wines commanded the highest prices and drove value growth
Breaking down EU exports by subcategory reveals that wines with protected designations dominated the high-value end. PDO non-white wines (CN 22042278) saw their unit price rise from €2,269/t to €3,509/t (+54.7%), while PGI non-white wines (CN 22042280) rose from €1,693/t to €2,217/t (+31.0%). These two segments alone accounted for over €49 million in 2025 export value. By contrast, non-PGI/non-PDO varietal wines (CN 22042284) remained the largest segment by volume (22,905 tonnes) but at a considerably lower unit price (€1,217/t), up from €877/t in 2017 (+38.7%).
| Export subcategory | 2017 vol. (t) | 2025 vol. (t) | 2017 price (€/t) | 2025 price (€/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22042284 — EU non-PDO/PGI, non-white | 18,375 | 22,905 | 877 | 1,217 |
| 22042280 — EU PGI, non-white | 11,652 | 13,275 | 1,693 | 2,217 |
| 22042279 — EU PGI, white | 8,072 | 11,790 | 1,663 | 1,730 |
| 22042278 — EU PDO, non-white | 6,405 | 5,647 | 2,269 | 3,509 |
| 22042283 — EU non-PDO/PGI, white | 5,260 | 9,885 | 912 | 1,242 |
| 22042282 — EU varietal, non-white | 3,049 | 4,591 | 1,353 | 1,512 |
On the import side, volume declines were concentrated in non-protected third-country wines
Most of the import contraction came from non-protected, non-EU-origin varietal wines. Varietal non-white wines (CN 22042296) fell from 11,109 tonnes to 8,500 tonnes, and other non-EU wines (CN 22042298) dropped from 6,561 tonnes to 2,032 tonnes (−69.0%). The collapse in UK-sourced imports fell under these non-protected categories. Meanwhile, protected-designation imports from outside the EU (CN 22042294) remained a small but high-value niche, with unit prices reaching €4,991/t in 2025 — far above the category average.
Conclusion
The EU's trade in still wine in 2–10 litre containers (CN 220422) over 2017–2025 was characterised by three overarching trends. First, while the EU's trade surplus more than doubled, this occurred against the backdrop of a 183% surge in domestic production that dwarfed export growth, causing trade intensity and export propensity to fall sharply. Second, the partner landscape was fundamentally reshaped: Brexit virtually eliminated the UK as an import source, while new export growth was driven by transatlantic and Asian markets (US, Japan, Canada). Third, the EU's export profile shifted towards higher-value PDO and PGI wines, with average export prices rising 27% and the gap with import prices widening — a clear sign of premiumisation. Going forward, the balance between serving a rapidly growing domestic production base and maintaining access to high-value third-country markets will be a key challenge for the European wine sector in this format segment.