THE high exchange rate is making it difficult for the Australian wine industry to achieve its goal of more bottle wine sales by 2025, according to the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
Figures show that during the past year, 723 million litres have been exported - 75mL less than the same time last year.
AWBC information and analysis manager, Lawrie Stanford, says that while bulk shipments have declined, the rate of bottled shipments has also slowed in recent months and this is a direct result of the high Australian dollar.
"Probably operating against the ambitions of the industry are exchange rates at the moment...it certainly seems that exchange rates are having an impact," he says.
Mr Stanford also says the current export market shows the importance of the industry setting a goal of 2025 for increased bottled wine sales.
"It will be a harder task based on competitiveness but it will make the tactic or the strategy even more important and even more correct," he says.