Friday, 13 February, 2026
Reuters, Sybille de La Hamaide
French wine and spirits exports fell last year to their lowest volume in at least 25 years as U.S. tariffs and Chinese duties hit sales and a strong euro made some alcohol more expensive, industry group FEVS said on Tuesday, warning of no imminent relief.
Total French wine and spirits exports dropped 3% in volume last year to 168 million cases, their lowest level since at least the beginning of the century, according to a spokesperson for FEVS. They fell 8% in value to a five-year low of 14.3 billion euros ($17.03 billion).
French wine and spirits exports have slipped from being traditionally France's second-largest export sector to third, behind aerospace and cosmetics, as trade tensions intensified.
Looking ahead, FEVS chair Gabriel Picard said the sector should benefit from new EU trade deals with the South American Mercosur bloc and India, though 2026 could remain difficult without improved market access.
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