Champagne Shipments Fall Sharply as Industry Faces Uncertain Year-End Outlook

Champagne producers are facing a challenging year as shipments continue to decline, raising concerns about the outlook for the industry in the crucial final months of 2025. Data from the Comité Champagne shows that shipments in the first eight months of the year fell by 1.8% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching just 145 million bottles. If this trend continues through December, total annual shipments may not reach 220 million bottles, a level considered disastrous by many in the region.

August was particularly difficult for Champagne houses. Shipments dropped by 6.7% compared to August 2024, with only 15.3 million bottles leaving the region. The French domestic market saw an even sharper decline, down 8.4% to just 6.1 million bottles sold in August. Export markets performed slightly better but still recorded a decrease of 5.5%, with 9.1 million bottles shipped abroad.

Within export markets, there is a notable difference between sales to European Union countries and those further afield, such as the United States and Japan. While exports to non-EU countries fell by 7.4% in August, shipments within the EU actually increased slightly by 0.7%. Over the first eight months of the year, France’s domestic market is down 4.8%, totaling 56.7 million bottles, while overall exports have remained stable at 88.4 million bottles—a marginal increase of just 0.2%. Exports to Europe dipped by 2.1%, but shipments to other international markets rose by 1.2%, reaching 63.7 million bottles.

The United Kingdom, now counted as a non-EU market for statistical purposes, has shown some resilience in volume terms. Shipments to the UK increased by 3.9% in the first eight months of this year, helping to boost figures for exports outside Europe. However, value has not kept pace with volume; revenue from UK sales dropped by 7.6% as retailers continue aggressive discounting.

Among Champagne’s top fifteen export markets, volume grew by 6.5% while value edged up only 0.7% over the first eight months of this year. However, both volume and value declined in July and August after steady growth earlier in the year—a trend that industry observers are watching closely as it could signal further trouble ahead.

Looking at different segments within Champagne production, large houses have weathered the downturn better than others, accounting for three-quarters of all shipments so far this year—about 108.3 million bottles—a slight decrease of just 0.4%. Cooperatives saw their combined shipments fall by 6.7% to 11.9 million bottles, while independent wine growers experienced a drop of 5.1% to 24.8 million bottles shipped in the same period.

Industry experts attribute these declines partly to weaker demand in France, which remains a key market for cooperatives and growers who rely more heavily on domestic sales than larger houses do on exports.

With most Champagne sales traditionally occurring during the last four months of the year—driven by holiday celebrations and end-of-year events—producers are hoping for a strong finish to avoid what many describe as a potential disaster for one of France’s most iconic industries. The coming months will be critical as producers and exporters look for signs of recovery or brace for further declines in both volume and value across global markets.