French exports hit record high, driven by surging sales to China

French wine and spirits exports hit a record high of €15.5bn last year, a 28% year on year increase, but also an 11% increase on 2019. 

This is according to figures from Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins et Spiritueux de France (FEVS), which reports that shipments to China which surged by 56%, are driving the growth, a result which the chairman described as "remarkable". 

“Despite remaining health, logistical and geopolitical constraints, French wines and spirits companies have shown both their willingness and their ability to bounce back in the different parts of the world” said César Giron. 

The US is now the largest export destination for French wines, accounting  for over a quarter of total overseas shipments, with sales increasing by over a third (34%), to €4.1bn, largely boosted by the suspension of US taxes on French wine from March 2021.

“Our companies have grounds for pride: they have shown their ability to succeed, after 18 very difficult months, facing American duties linked to the dispute on aeronautics and the global pandemic” continued Giron. "But this remarkable recovery should not make us forget that, despite the suspension of duties, this dispute is not solved. We hope the EU & the US will now settle this 15-years lasting-long dispute quickly and definitively.”

The UK remained a strong market for French wines, with concerns over Brexit quelled. Since the UK’s departure from the EU in January 2021, there has been no adverse impact on French alcohol sales, which last year jumped by 20%. And a similar trend was noted in the EU, with a 23% increase in exports of French wines and spirits to a record €3.8 billion.

In Asia meanwhile, French wine exports leaped by 56% to reach €1.26bn in the Chinese market, while the growth in South Korea exceeded 60%. Shipments to Singapore also increased significantly.   At €3.7 billion, total exports to Asia increased by 15% in volume and by 24% in value for wines; 17% by volume and 47% by value for spirits. 

The French region accounting for the highest sales value was Champagne, with shipments of€ 3.5bn, followed by Bordeaux (€2.3bn), Burgundy (€1.27bn), the Rhone Valley (€524m and Provence (€313m).