SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — People worldwide are still buying US wine in a tight economy, although exports were down in 2009 from 2008's record-setting year.

US wine exports dropped nearly 15 percent last year. The largest decrease — 21 percent — was in shipments to the European Union, which is the biggest importer of US wines.

According to figures released last week by the Wine Institute, increased shipments to Hong Kong and China helped offset the decline. The US also overtook Chile as the largest bulk wine exporter to Japan, where US imorts were up 42 percent.

The total value of exported wine was nearly $912 million. That's down from 2008 when the value of exports topped $1 billion for the first time.