French wine and spirits exports reach their highest level in 2022

Exports of French wines and spirits generated a record turnover of 17.2 billion euros in 2022, under the effect of inflation and the appetite for these products abroad, the Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS) announced on Tuesday. This record was driven by rising sales prices per bottle, while volumes sold fell.

Sales of champagnes, AOC wines, cognacs and other spirits increased in almost all categories (+10.8% in total in value for a year), according to customs figures compiled and published on Tuesday by the federation.

The trade surplus generated by these beverages amounts to 15.7 billion euros, 10.3% more than in 2021. A “remarkable performance”, which makes the sector “the second trade surplus after aeronautics” in France, underlined the FEVS president, César Giron, during a press conference organized at the Wine Paris & Vinexpo fair.

declining volumes

French wines and spirits continue to attract beyond the borders, although, in 2022, the growth is partly explained by the increase in the price of bottles. The sector, according to César Giron, knew how to “absorb and retransmit” the increase in its production costs (glass, aluminum, transport). Wine sales amounted to 11,600 million euros (+10.2%) and those of spirits -excluding vermouths and wine-based aperitifs- reached 5,500 million euros (+11.6%).

High value-added products (champagne, cognac, grands crus) once again fueled this growth. “75% of our exports are made outside the European Union, which should encourage us to promote the opening of markets and the signing of bilateral agreements,” said César Girón.

The 550 companies gathered in the FEVS, which represent 85% of French sales abroad, nevertheless shipped fewer bottles, with a total drop in volumes of 3.8%. These volumes even fall 6.6% in the wine category, a “huge” decrease that corresponds to almost 10 million fewer cases, Mr. Girón said.

In question, the catastrophic 2021 harvest due to weather calamities (frost, hail), which “made export capacity impossible”, and global geopolitical and logistical tensions that disrupted shipments. The United States remains the main destination market for French wines and spirits. More than a quarter of sales are made there, up 14% in 2022 to €4.7bn, despite a 5% drop in volumes.