French wine exports lose momentum: 4.1% decline in 2025

The French wine sector, a global benchmark in terms of value, is navigating a challenging period in international markets. During 2025, overseas wine sales fell to €10.5 billion, representing a 4.1% drop compared to the previous year. This was revealed yesterday by the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins & Spiritueux de France (FEVS) during a data presentation at Wine Paris, the Vinexposium event concluding today in the French capital.

FEVS, which brings together 550 members responsible for 85% of French wine and spirits exports, also reported a 2.8% decline in volumes sold, reaching 120,630 cases—equivalent to 10.9 million hectolitres, representing 318,000 hectolitres less than in 2024. These figures return French wine sales to 2021 levels, despite the positive performance of sparkling wines, which grew by 3% and now account for 20% of total exported volume.

United States and China: the main drivers of decline

The US market, which accounts for 17.9% of total exports with nearly €1.9 billion, experienced a severe blow with a 19% contraction in value. Tariffs and the depreciation of the dollar against the euro largely explain this setback. In volume terms, sales to the United States fell to 1.6 million hectolitres, 14.8% of the total.

Meanwhile, the combined Chinese market (including Hong Kong) suffered a dramatic drop of 31.1% in volume and 19.5% in value, settling at €266 million. Indeed, losses recorded in the United States and China account for more than 85% of the total volume reduction forecast for 2025.

Europe maintains uneven positions

The United Kingdom ranked as the second market by value with €1.38 billion, recording a slight decrease of 1.1%, although volumes grew by 4.6% to reach 1.39 million hectolitres. Germany took third place by value with €718,000 (-1.5%) and second in volume with 1.4 million hectolitres (-6%).

The top 10 is completed by Japan (€607 million, +0.4%), Belgium (€604 million, -0.7%), Canada (€483 million, +4.3%), Switzerland (€471 million, +5.1%), Singapore (€395 million, -2%), the Netherlands (€371 million, +1.5%), and Hong Kong (€313 million, +9.2%). Italy ranks 11th by value with €309 million (-6.3%) and 12th by volume (-2.2%).

Major appellations also suffer

In value terms, Champagne exports fell by 4.5% to €3.68 billion, although they experienced modest volume growth of 0.9%. Controlled designations of origin (DOC) dropped 5% in value to €5 billion, with a more pronounced decline in volume (-5.9%). Protected geographical indications (PGI) also fell back 5% in value, totalling €829 million, with a 5.2% drop in volume.

Among the most emblematic regions, only Burgundy showed some resistance: Bordeaux lost 8.9% in volume and 4.8% in value; Burgundy fell 2.3% in volume and 2.4% in value; and the Rhône Valley declined 6.3% in volume and 7.6% in value. Collectively, Champagne (35%), Bordeaux (19%), and Burgundy (15%) concentrate 69% of the total value of French wine exports.

Spirits: cognac in the firing line

If spirits are included, the sector reached €14.3 billion in 2025, a further decline of 8% compared to 2024, accompanied by a 3% reduction in volumes. The market has been affected by significant economic and geopolitical tensions.

French spirits exports reached €3.7 billion, with volume dropping to 44 million cases (-5%). Cognac, at €2.2 billion, leads this category but has been severely punished by anti-dumping tariffs imposed by China, losing 23.8% in value and 14.7% in volume. This measure has also penalised exports of Armagnac and other domestic brandies.