By Sybille de La Hamaide
PARIS, Feb 10 (Reuters) – French wine and spirits exports fell for a 3rd consecutive yr in 2025 as U.S. tariffs and duties in China harm gross sales, and the outlook stays difficult, trade group FEVS stated on Tuesday.
French wine and spirits exports dropped 8% to 14.3 billion euros ($17.03 billion) and three% in quantity final yr to 168 million circumstances as U.S. and Chinese language commerce obstacles hit demand.
Since 2022, French wine and spirits exports have fallen 17% in worth and slipped from being France’s second-largest export sector to 3rd, behind aerospace and cosmetics, as commerce tensions intensified.
Trying forward, FEVS Chairman Gabriel Picard stated the sector ought to profit from new EU commerce offers with India, and with the Mercosur bloc, the place demand is increasing, although 2026 may stay troublesome with out improved market entry.
Final yr, larger tariffs on shipments to america and threats of even larger ones, as much as 200%, cooled demand, particularly within the second half, with gross sales dropping 21% to three.0 billion euros and volumes falling under 30 million circumstances.
“There’s a actual decline within the United States and the amount correction could not have been enough, and maybe we’ll see one other quantity correction in 2026,” Picard informed Reuters forward of the Wine Paris exhibition.
Gross sales to China dropped 20% to 767 million euros in 2025 as anti-dumping duties sharply curbed shipments of cognac, armagnac and different wine-based spirits, FEVS stated.
Exports of cognac, the French trade’s flagship spirit, plunged 15% in quantity and 24% in worth, turning into one of many largest casualties of escalating commerce tensions.
“Geopolitical tensions between France and China marked the tip of cognac in China. Now stopping one thing would not take lengthy, however rebuilding takes an extended time,” Picard stated.
Inside Europe, wine and spirits exports held broadly steady at 4.1 billion euros, with resilience in markets such because the UK, the place volumes rose 3% regardless of fiscal strain, FEVS stated.
Gross sales to South Africa jumped 22% to 182 million euros, whereas Vietnam, the Philippines and Australia additionally confirmed sturdy momentum, providing diversification choices as conventional markets contracted.
($1 = 0.8397 euros )
(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Modifying by Susan Fenton)