French Wine Exports 2025: Prices Adjust, Markets Rebalance
Falling volumes, pressured values, and shifting geographies reshape the outlook for French wine exports in 2025.
There was no reversal of fortune in 2025. French wine exports closed the year on a downward trajectory, confirming a trend already visible in late 2024. From January to September, France shipped 9.4 million hectolitres of wine abroad for a total value of €8.2 billion, representing declines of 2% in volume and 3% in value year-on-year. These figures, analysed by Rafael del Rey of Analysts of Wine Markets, underline a structural adjustment rather than a temporary shock.
Behind the aggregate numbers lies a sharply contrasted picture between categories, regions, and destinations. Sparkling wines showed resilience through price flexibility, while still wines absorbed the full impact of geopolitical and economic headwinds.
Sparkling wines: volume defended by price
Across all French wines, the average export price slipped by 1% to €8.70 per litre. The most pronounced adjustment occurred in sparkling wines, led by Champagne. Average prices fell by 6% to €19.6 per litre, equivalent to €14.7 per 75 cl bottle. This pricing strategy proved effective in sustaining demand: exported volumes rose by 4% to 1.5 million hectolitres.
As a result, the loss in value was contained, with sparkling wine exports generating €2.9 billion, down just 2%. In a constrained global environment, Champagne demonstrated a capacity to preserve market share by accepting a controlled erosion of unit value.
Still wines under sustained pressure
Still bottled wines followed a less forgiving path. Prices remained broadly stable at €7.7 per litre, yet volumes and value both declined by 3%, bringing exports to 6.55 million hectolitres and €5 billion respectively. The absence of price adjustment, combined with weaker demand in key markets, left this segment exposed.
Bulk wine was a notable exception. Export prices for bulk wine rose by 8%, offsetting a 2% fall in volumes and resulting in a 6% increase in export value to €140 million. This niche performance, however, was insufficient to alter the overall balance.
Regional impact: Bordeaux at the forefront
Among still wines, Bordeaux accounted for roughly one third of the total loss in export value. Over the first nine months of 2025, Bordeaux exports declined by €50 million, or 3%, bringing the total to €1.5 billion. The region’s exposure to premium export markets magnified the effects of price sensitivity and geopolitical friction.
Losses were more moderate in Burgundy, which saw exports fall by €12 million (-1.1%) to €1 billion. Other regions suffered proportionally sharper setbacks: Languedoc lost €26 million (-23%), while the Loire Valley and Rhone Valleyeach declined by €10 million.
North America and Asia: twin sources of contraction
Geographically, the heaviest losses were concentrated in North America and Asia. Exports to North America fell by €144 million, bringing the total to €1.9 billion. The decline was driven almost entirely by the United States, where values dropped by 11% and volumes by 4%. Canada posted growth in both respects, but not enough to offset its southern neighbour.
The US contraction is closely linked to the reintroduction of import duties, rising from 10% to 20% during 2025. These measures forced renegotiations, encouraged down-trading, and favoured more competitively priced wines, often to the detriment of French still wines positioned in higher segments.
Asia presented a similarly challenging landscape, with exports down €130 million to €1.7 billion. Declines were recorded in Singapore, South Korea, and most significantly China, where values plunged by 29%. The sustained slowdown in Chinese consumption continues to weigh heavily on premium wine imports.
Stability in Europe, momentum elsewhere
Against this backdrop, the European Union provided a measure of stability. Remaining the leading destination for French wines, it held steady at €2.6 billion, offering a crucial anchor amid global volatility.
More encouraging signals emerged from other regions. Oceania recorded growth of 17% to €234 million, supported by Australia and New Zealand. Africa also advanced, with exports rising 9% to €197 million. While these markets remain secondary in scale, their momentum points to gradual diversification beyond traditional strongholds.
A year of adjustment, not collapse
The 2025 export results confirm a year of adjustment rather than collapse for the French vineyard. Price sensitivity, geopolitical tensions, and uneven global demand reshaped trade flows, exposing structural dependencies while highlighting areas of resilience.
For French wine producers and merchants, the lesson is clear: flexibility in pricing, market diversification, and alignment with evolving consumption patterns will be decisive factors in navigating the years ahead.