After two successful years, the progression of exports sales has slowed way down for French wine and spirits. On the first six months of 2008, sales have grown only 3 % in value ( 4,3 billion €) compared to 2007 ; volumes have progressed negatively. A morose international economy, paired with a too strong euro may be at the core of this downfall. However, wine and spirits remain the first exporting sector within the French industry.

Spirits sales dropped 3,5% in volume and 6,4% in value, with Cognac losing 6,1% in volume and 5% in value. Among the wines, even Champagne is hurt, dropping 4,3 % in volume and 1,3 % in value. Still wines progress in value ( +10,5% ), a raise that still doesn't match the overall raise in prince (an average +25%), while volumes drop 12,8%. The higher range of the still wines category (AOC and VDQS) drop only 4,5%, thanks to the record export sales of 2005 Grands Crus de Bordeaux, a highly speculative vintage. With the Grands Crus de Bordeaux sales aside, the AOC still wines sales drop 7,9% in volume and 1,2% in value.
On the less qualitative side of the still wine market, the table wines and Vins de Pays sales shrank 18,9% in volume and 7,1% in value.

As for the geography of French wine and spirits exports, the split is stable between sales within the EU (49,3 %) and outside of it(50,7 %).New markets are the most encouraging, specially China (including Singapore), with overall wine and spirits sales rising 6% in value (still wines rose 30% in value and 24% in volume).

[ Source : French association of wine and spirits exporters (FEVS) ]