MARKETS · NETHERLANDS

Netherlands

A bottled-wine market with European reach

The Netherlands relies heavily on wine imports and is also an established European trading and distribution hub. In 2025, 3.3 million hectolitres of wine were imported. Import value reached €1.346 billion. Compared with 2024, volume fell by 19.5% and value by 11.1%.

Two characteristics are particularly relevant for Argentine producers: bottled wine accounted for 86% of Dutch import volume in 2025, while part of the imported wine is subsequently distributed through Dutch companies into other European markets.

3.3 million hlWine imports
2025
€1.35 billionImport value
2025
86%Bottled wine share of import volume
2025
2.9 million hlWine consumption
2025

Source: OIV, State of the World Wine Sector 2025.

MARKET CONTEXT

Imports and consumption are falling sharply.

In 2025, Dutch wine import volume fell by 19.5% to 3.3 million hectolitres. Import value declined by 11.1% to €1.346 billion. All import categories reported by the OIV declined in both volume and value.

Bottled wine is particularly relevant: it accounted for 86% of import volume and 82% of import value. At the same time, its volume fell by 20.2% compared with 2024, while import value declined by 11.5%.

Consumption also moved downward. The OIV estimates Dutch wine consumption at 2.9 million hectolitres in 2025. This represents a decline of 12.7% compared with 2024 and 18.1% compared with the average of the previous five years.

The Netherlands remains a large import market while both imports and consumption are declining sharply.
IMPORT STRUCTURE

Structure of Dutch wine
imports 2025.

Import categories by volume and value

Bottled wine · Volume
86%
Bottled wine · Value
82%
Sparkling wine · Volume
7%
Sparkling wine · Value
14%
Bag-in-Box · Volume
6%
Bag-in-Box · Value
3%
Bulk wine · Volume
2%
Bulk wine · Value
1%

Development in 2025 compared with 2024

Bottled wine · Volume
−20.2%
Bottled wine · Value
−11.5%
Sparkling wine · Volume
−10.9%
Sparkling wine · Value
−10.1%
Bag-in-Box · Volume
−16.2%
Bag-in-Box · Value
−0.6%
Bulk wine · Volume
−23.8%
Bulk wine · Value
−17.8%

The change rates refer to trade volume and trade value. They do not provide a direct measure of consumer prices or margins.

Source: OIV, State of the World Wine Sector 2025.

PORTFOLIO

Bottled wine shapes the import structure.

Bottled wine clearly dominates the Dutch import market. For producers exporting under their own brand, this is directly relevant: the import flow consists predominantly of bottled wine, with only a small share coming from bulk wine or Bag-in-Box.

At the same time, bottled wine experienced a sharp decline in 2025.

Bottled wine is the largest import category. Its volume nevertheless fell significantly in 2025.
TRADE STRUCTURE

The Netherlands is also
a re-export hub.

The OIV specifically analyses the Netherlands as a re-export hub. Over the multi-year period examined, an average of around 357.3 million litres, or 79% of imported wine, remained in the Dutch market. Around 21% was re-exported. Major destinations included the United Kingdom, Norway and Belgium.

This trading function expands the potential role of a Dutch importer. A partner can serve the domestic market while also reaching other European markets through existing distribution structures.

A Dutch import partner can provide access beyond one national market.
DOMESTIC VS. RE-EXPORT

Function of Dutch wine imports.

Average trade flows 2018–2023.

Dutch domestic market
79%
Re-export
21%

These figures are historical multi-year data and should not be read as the breakdown of Dutch imports in 2025. They describe the country’s structural role in wine trade.

Source: OIV, The Global Trade in Wine: Role and Relevance of Re-exportation Hubs.

ORIGIN

European origins shape the market.

France remained the Netherlands’ leading wine supplier by volume and value in 2025. French shipments fell by 201,000 hl, or 20.5%, compared with 2024; their value declined by €59.7 million, or 13.4%.

Detailed trade data for 2024 show a strongly European origin structure. France, Italy, Spain and Germany together accounted for the majority of recorded import volume. Outside Europe, Chile and South Africa reached particularly visible positions.

ORIGIN STRUCTURE

Wine imports by
origin – Netherlands 2024.

France
96.2 million l — 24.8%
Italy
64.6 million l — 16.6%
Spain
60.6 million l — 15.6%
Germany
58.9 million l — 15.2%
Belgium
24.9 million l — 6.4%
Chile
22.2 million l — 5.7%
South Africa
13.1 million l — 3.4%
Portugal
12.7 million l — 3.3%
Argentina
5.18 million l — 1.33%
Other
29.8 million l — 7.7%

Data basis: international trade statistics for wine, HS 2204. HS 2204 covers wine of fresh grapes, including sparkling wine and additional items within this customs category.

Source: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade, HS 2204, calendar year 2024.

ARGENTINA IN THE NETHERLANDS

Argentina’s current market
presence

ca. 1.33%

of Dutch wine import volume recorded in international trade statistics in 2024 came from Argentina.

5.18 million lImport volume from Argentina
US$23.14 millionImport value
ca. US$4.47/lstatistical import value per litre
ca. 1.51%Share of recorded import value
388.23 million ltotal recorded import volume

Source: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade, HS 2204, 2024. The statistical import value per litre is not a consumer price. All figures in this module refer to 2024.

COMPARISON

Argentina already has a visible position.

Among the selected non-European origins, Argentina ranked behind Chile and South Africa in 2024, but ahead of Australia, the United States and New Zealand.

22.19 million lChile
13.07 million lSouth Africa
5.18 million lArgentina
3.83 million lAustralia
2.20 million lUnited States
1.88 million lNew Zealand

The Netherlands therefore differs from markets where Argentina still occupies only a very small position. A visible import base already exists, while Chile and South Africa remain substantially larger.

What has enabled Chile and South Africa to build larger positions in the Dutch market?

Import data can answer this only partially. Assortment, price levels, import partners, trade channels and brand presence also need to be considered.

CONSUMPTION

Wine consumption is falling
despite broad reach.

Dutch wine consumption fell to an estimated 2.9 million hectolitres in 2025. Compared with 2024, this represents a decline of 12.7%.

At the same time, according to the 2024 Leefstijlmonitor, 45.3% of adults who consume alcohol drink wine at least once a month. This figure measures reach within the population of alcohol consumers and does not describe consumed volume.

Wine still reaches a broad audience while total consumption is declining.

Sources: OIV, State of the World Wine Sector 2025; Trimbos-instituut / Leefstijlmonitor 2024.

POSITIONING

The Netherlands combines consumption and distribution.

The Netherlands is an import-driven wine market with a very high share of bottled wine, declining consumption and an established role in European wine trade.

Three levels are relevant for Argentine producers:

Dutch consumptionWhich wines are actually sold in the country?
Import market

Which products, prices and origins compete for this demand?
Regional distributionWhat additional reach can a Dutch importer or trading partner provide?
Should the wine be sold in the Netherlands or should the Netherlands form part of a broader European distribution strategy?
OUR VIEW ON THE NETHERLANDS.

The Netherlands combines a large market for imported bottled wine with an established trading and distribution function.

Imports and consumption declined significantly in 2025. Argentina nevertheless already has a visible starting position: around 1.33% of recorded import volume came from Argentina in 2024. Chile and South Africa show within the same international comparison group that larger positions are possible.

For the Netherlands, strategy comes down to two questions: where should the wine be sold, and what reach should the import partner provide?
SOURCES

  1. OIV – State of the World Wine Sector in 2025

    Published: 12 May 2026
    Data year: 2025
    Used for: wine consumption, import volume, import value, category structure and changes compared with 2024.
    Link: OIV – State of the World Wine Sector in 2025

  2. OIV – The Global Trade in Wine: Role and Relevance of Re-exportation Hubs

    Published: October 2025
    Netherlands data basis: mainly 2018–2023
    Used for: domestic/re-export split and the role of the Netherlands as a trading and distribution hub.
    Link: OIV – The Global Trade in Wine

  3. World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade – Netherlands, HS 2204 imports by country 2024

    Data year: 2024
    Used for: origin structure, Argentina, international comparison group, import volume and import value.
    Link: World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade – Netherlands HS 2204 imports 2024

  4. Trimbos-instituut – Cijfers alcoholgebruik volwassenen / Leefstijlmonitor

    Data year: 2024
    Used for: monthly wine consumption among adults who drink alcohol.
    Link: Trimbos-instituut – Cijfers alcoholgebruik volwassenen