Australia's Treasury Wine to redirect wine, cut costs after China tariffs

[BENGALURU] Treasury Wine Estates said on Monday it would redirect some wine intended for China and cut costs after Beijing imposed anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine, dealing a significant blow to the world's largest listed winemaker.

The company said it would relocate Penfold's Bin and Icon luxury range of wines from China to other markets such as Australia, the United States and Europe. It added that future vintage intakes from 2021 would also be reduced.

Over the weekend, China imposed temporary anti-dumping tariffs of 107.1 per cent to 212.1 per cent on wine imported from Australia, with Treasury Wine facing a rate of 169.3 per cent, the highest of any of the named wine companies.

Nearly a third of Treasury Wine's earnings in fiscal 2020 came from China, where it enjoys strong demand for its higher-margin luxury wine. It said demand in China would be extremely limited because of the tariffs.

"We are extremely disappointed to find our business, our partners' businesses and the Australian wine industry in this position," chief executive officer Tim Ford said.

China began an anti-dumping probe in August of Australian wine imports as relations between Beijing and Canberra deteriorate. China accounts for near 40 per cent of Australian wine exports.

"There is no doubt this (tariffs) will have a significant impact on many across the industry, costing jobs and hurting regional communities and economies which are the lifeblood of the wine sector," Mr Ford added.

The tariffs are yet another blow to Treasury Wine this year, as global curb on travel and social gatherings have hit sales hard, especially at its non-retail channels that include bars, restaurants.

REUTERS