China-Australia relations: from Kazakhstan to Serbia, winemakers vie for piece of Chinese market amid trade dispute

Proximity to China and an abundance of arable land could see Kazakhstan well-positioned to take advantage of trade row between its neighbour and Australia

Up-and-coming wine exporters may be less able to meet demand like France and Chile can, but could instead target China’s increasingly discerning middle class

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Zeinulla Kakimzhanov, who owns the Arba Wine estate in Kazakhstan, is looking to increase his exports to China. Photo: Arba Wine

Published: 4:30am, 30 Dec 2020Updated: 5:16am, 30 Dec 2020

Kazakhstani winemaker Zeinulla Kakimzhanov is pleased with the fresh inquiries he has been getting from Chinese wine importers in recent months.

Kakimzhanov, who owns the Arba Wine estate near Karakemer village in Kazakhstan’s wine region of Almaty, already sells some Kazakh wines such as Rieslings, Pinot noirs, saperavi and aligoté in China, but has been looking to increase his exports given his proximity to China.

It takes only five days for his wine shipments to reach Shanghai by road.

“Perhaps such interest [among Chinese importers] is driven by the search for new sources of wine imports to substitute for wines from Australia,” he said.

“China has long seen Kazakhstan as a good long-term partner in the import of agricultural products, especially since it fits the Belt and Road Initiative. The emerging trade-policy issues between China and Australia will accelerate this process. It will take time, but at least there is a start.”

Barrels of wine at the Arba Wine estate in Kazakhstan’s wine region of Almaty. Photo: Arba Wine

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