Portuguese wine exports to US plunge due to tariffs: association

LISBON - Portuguese wine exports to the United States fell by 9.3 million euros (10.82 million US dollars) in the first nine months of 2025, as the sector continues to feel the impact of US tariff measures, according to data provided by ViniPortugal to local media.

The decline deepened after the tariff dispute initiated by Donald Trump when he took office on Jan 20. By May, Portuguese wine shipments to the US had already dropped 9.7 percent year-on-year, generating a cumulative loss of 4 million euros following the introduction of a 10 percent customs levy on all goods shipped.

The figures released this week, covering the period through Sept 30, show that under the new 15 percent tariff agreed with the European Union, the value of wine sales has now registered a further contraction.

"It is an atypical drop in export value," said Frederico Falcao, president of ViniPortugal, the national body responsible for promoting the "Wines of Portugal" brand globally, cited by Portuguese newspaper Publico.

Falcao acknowledged that the imposition of customs duties dragged exports into negative territory compared to 2024. However, more damaging than the tariffs themselves, he said, was the "unpredictability" surrounding the US market, which significantly discouraged buyers.

Speaking before departing for China, where he is accompanying 33 Portuguese producers participating in ProWine Shanghai 2025, Falcao said that Portugal recorded a decline in export value but an increase in export volume.

"If we had not seen this drop in the US market, overall exports would have grown," he said.