France boosts H1 wine and spirits exports as US, UK lead growth

Cognac exports were in growth for France but spirits overall underperformed

France's first-half wine and spirits exports increased by 4% in value over the same period last year, new figures show.

According to the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins & Spiritueux de France (FEVS), sales reached EUR6.2bn (US$7.5bn) in the first six months of 2018. The US was a driver of growth, up 3% in value, along with the UK, which upped sales by 4% in the half-year.

Volumes to the US increased by 9%, FEVS said.

Category-wise, wine outperformed spirits, with sales up 5% despite only a 1% increase in volumes because of a small harvest in 2017. Cognac was the biggest driver for spirits, but value sales for the overall category were up just 1%, despite a 4% volumes lift.

Commenting on the figures, FEVS president Antoine Leccia, said: "The small harvest in 2017 is beginning to weigh on our shipments and is likely to continue to do so over the course of the coming months. But, this has not affected the global value of exports on an international market which is characterised by both dynamism and uncertainty."

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