China-Australia relations: more than 11,000 litres of wine detained in Shenzhen as ban continues
- Australian wine from Bunnamagoo Estate and private supplier Lindsdale are the latest batches to be held up at Chinese ports
- The seizures last month came just weeks before China officially slapped anti-dumping duties of up to 218.4 per cent on some Australian wines
Nearly 9,000 litres of red wine from a vineyard owned by renowned Australian pearling company Paspaley Group were detained in south China last month, as Beijing’s block on Australian wine continues amid a protracted dispute between the two countries and new anti-dumping duties on the trade.
Some 8,640 litres from Paspaley’s Bunnamagoo Estate winery and 2,646 litres of red wine from Australian private label supplier Lindsdale were stopped in Shenzhen for poor labelling and excessive use of additives, respectively, Chinese customs data showed.
The seizure is the latest in a string of problems for Australian wine at the Chinese border and underlines Beijing’s message that it no longer wants to buy products from the country, export and import agents in China said.
But it also reflects how lucrative the Chinese market has been for Australian wine producers that, despite an unofficial ban imposed last November and temporary anti-dumping duties put in place last month, many exporters still think they can profit, said Tony Battaglene, CEO of Australian Grape & Wine.