2026-07-16
French wine exports fell again in the first four months of 2026, with shipments down in both volume and value as producers faced lower prices across many markets. Data from FranceAgriMer reviewed by WineNews and highlighted by Wine-Intelligence show exports from January through April reached 4.02 million hectoliters, down 1% from a year earlier, while export value fell 4% to €3.5 billion.
The weaker start follows a difficult 2025, when the value of French wine exports declined 4.1% from the previous year to €10.5 billion. The new figures suggest that the pressure has continued into 2026, especially for still wines and some bulk formats, even as sparkling wine has held up better in several key destinations.
Average export prices fell more than 3% to €8.70 per liter, a sign that French producers are selling into a more competitive market and often accepting lower returns. That matters across the beverage business because it points to tighter margins, changing product mix and possible adjustments in commercial strategy, inventory planning and pricing decisions for wine companies and importers.
The United States, France’s largest export market, showed one of the clearest examples of that pressure. Export volumes to the U.S. rose 10%, but value dropped 11%, suggesting discounting, a shift toward lower-priced products or both. Champagne shipments to the U.S. fell 4% in volume, while Crémant and other protected designation of origin sparkling wines rose 12%.
Bulk wine sales to the U.S. moved in opposite directions depending on format. Small-format bulk shipments jumped 128%, while large-format bulk exports fell 23%. Average bulk prices in that market dropped 19% to €10.50 per liter.
The United Kingdom showed a similar pattern. Volumes increased 4%, but value slipped 1%. Bottled wine exports declined 4%, while sparkling wine helped support the market, rising 12% in volume and 6% in value. Within that category, Champagne recovered 5% and Crémant and other AOP sparkling wines climbed 29%. Average prices in the U.K. fell 4% to €9.40 per liter.
Across Europe, exports weakened more broadly. Shipments to the region fell 5%, with Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands all posting declines. Germany, still France’s largest market within the European Union, recorded a drop of nearly 5% in volume. Bottled wine exports there fell almost 7%, and bulk wine declined 8%. Sparkling wine was the exception, rising 2%, helped by a 13% increase for Champagne and a 6% gain for Crémant.
Belgium’s decline was sharper. Export volume fell nearly 11%, while value dropped about 7%. Even there, sparkling wine gained ground and reached a 10% share of exports. The Netherlands followed the same downward trend, according to the data cited by Wine-Intelligence.
In Asia, China remained weak but showed some signs of stabilization. Export volumes to China fell 10% and value declined 5%, driven largely by a 15% drop in bottled wine sales. At the same time, bulk wine exports rose 134% and sparkling wine increased 21%. The average export price to China rose 6% to €10.50 per liter, close to U.S. levels, reflecting continued demand for higher-priced products even as total shipments remained under pressure.
Japan stood out as the strongest market in the period covered by the report. Sparkling wine led the gains there, with Champagne volumes up 25%. Total export value to Japan increased 9%, and average prices rose more than 4% to €13.50 per liter, the highest level among the markets cited.
The figures point to a widening gap inside France’s export portfolio. Still wines and bulk categories continue to lose value in many markets, while Champagne, Crémant and other sparkling wines have proved more resilient. For exporters and distributors, that shift could influence where they place marketing budgets, how they manage stock and which categories they prioritize as demand changes from one market to another.