French beverage exports to the United States rose 34% in the third quarter of 2026

French beverage exports to the United States rose 34% in the third quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, adding about 223 million euros in sales, according to a quarterly foreign trade analysis published by French customs on November 6. The increase made beverages the biggest contributor, in value terms, to the broader rebound in French exports to the U.S., ahead of aerospace.

The gain offers an important signal for French wine and spirits producers, as well as brewers and other drinks exporters, because the U.S. remains a key market for the sector. But the data do not point to a full recovery. French customs said the comparison base was unusually weak after a sharp drop in the third quarter of 2025, and beverage exports still remained well below their levels from the third quarters of 2023 and 2024.

Across all goods except ships, French exports to the United States increased 5% in the third quarter of 2026, or 547.5 million euros, the customs report said. Beverages accounted for roughly 41% of that rise based on the published figures. Aerospace added 184 million euros, up 7%, while perfumes, cosmetics and cleaning products added 146 million euros, up 28%. Pharmaceuticals moved in the opposite direction, falling 316 million euros, or 30%.

The customs data group wines, spirits including cognac, beer, water and nonalcoholic drinks under the same beverages category. The report does not break down how much each segment contributed to the 223 million euro increase, leaving open how much of the rebound came from wine and spirits versus other drinks. More detailed annual data by product are expected from industry groups and export federations in early 2027.

The rise marked a reversal after several weak quarters tied to higher U.S. tariffs. Since additional American duties took effect in April 2025, French sales to the United States had been under pressure. Customs said exports first rose 7% in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, with wines and leather goods possibly shipped early before the tariffs were imposed. After that, exports leveled off and then declined for three straight quarters: down 4% at the end of 2025, down 4% in the first quarter of 2026 and down 2% in the second quarter. The third quarter’s 5% increase ended that run.

Even so, customs cautioned against reading too much into a single quarter. The report said beverage exports to the United States had fallen sharply in the third quarter of 2025, making the year-earlier comparison unusually favorable. That low base effect means the 34% jump does not show that French drinks shipments have returned to pre-tariff conditions.

For exporters of wine and spirits, the figures still matter because they suggest some stabilization in the largest overseas market for many French producers. At the same time, the data show that any recovery remains incomplete and uneven. A rise in export value also does not show whether shelf prices in the United States changed or whether volumes recovered at the same pace.

French customs also said France’s rebound to the U.S. was less pronounced than that of some European peers over the same period. Exports to the United States rose 26% for Germany, 16% for the United Kingdom and 10% for Italy, according to the report. Customs said part of that gap reflected strong pharmaceutical shipments, including a spike in July, before a 15% tariff took effect on patented drug products. September figures for those countries were still estimates.

The November 6 customs analysis also included an early look at trade with Mercosur countries after an interim trade agreement took effect in May. That part of the report suggests an alternative market is developing for some French alcohol producers, but on a much smaller scale than the United States. From May through September 2026, French wine exports to Mercosur countries reached 31.3 million euros, up from 28.9 million euros a year earlier, an 8% increase. Customs said about half of that gain came from Champagne and about one-quarter from Burgundy wines.

French spirits exports to Mercosur rose from about 2.7 million euros to about 5.1 million euros, or 85%, mainly because of vodka shipments to Brazil, the report said. Still, the market remains small. The 223 million euro quarterly increase in French beverage exports to the United States was more than seven times the total value of French wine sales to Mercosur over those five months.

Tariffs on wine and spirits entering Mercosur countries had generally ranged from 20% to 35%, according to customs. Those duties were reduced by two to four points starting May 1, 2026, with full elimination scheduled between 2030 and 2036. Customs said it was too early to draw firm conclusions about the agreement’s effect because the period covered was short and the cuts so far were limited.

The customs figures leave several open questions for the beverage industry. They show that export values improved in the third quarter after a difficult stretch, but they do not establish that demand has returned to earlier levels. They also do not identify whether the rebound was led by Champagne, cognac, still wines, beer or nonalcoholic drinks. That product-level picture is expected to become clearer when annual 2026 export results are published in early 2027.