(Just-Drinks) - Australia's bottled wine exports have fallen in volume terms in the past year but value increased as premium wines bounced back, new figures show. 

Volumes for bottled wine shipped abroad in the 12 months to the end of June dropped by 10% to 285m litres, according to Wine Australia's latest Wine Export Approval Report, published today (15 July). However, the category saw a 6% increase in average value of bottles, to AUD4.77 (US$4.47) per litre.

The increase is a reversal of downward trends in per-bottle price since 2007, when the global recession hit, and comes on the back of a “turnaround in fortunes” for premium Australian wines in key markets, the report said.

“Some of these increasing sales could be from wineries seeking opportunities in other markets in response to the slowdown in China,” the report added.

Bulk wine exports, meanwhile, increased by 4% to 392m litres due to a continuing shift towards shipping branded wine in bulk containers. Overall, wine export volumes dropped by 2% to 684m litres while average value declined “marginally” to AUD2.60 per litre.

The UK remained Australia’s biggest export market by volume, although exports fell by 1% to 244m litres. The US, the second largest market for Australian wine, saw volumes plummet by 15% to 161m litres because of two consecutive record grape crushes in the country. China exports were also hit, by government austerity measures, down 10% to 37m litres.

Canada saw volumes increase by 20% to 59m litres.