Lull in consumption
Champagne sales are falling significantly
Crises, conflicts and a sluggish economy give little cause for concern. This is also why less champagne was sold last year.
French champagne sales fell sharply by 9.2 percent last year. Sales fell to 271.4 million bottles in 2024 after 299 million bottles in the previous year, said the manufacturers’ association Comité Champagne.
Sales in France itself fell to 118.2 million bottles, a decrease of 7.2 percent compared to 2023. The national market continues to suffer from the political crisis and economic downturn in France, the association said.
Champagne exports fell by 10.8 percent to 153.2 million bottles compared to 2023. However, the share of exports, at 56.4 percent of the total, continues to exceed sales on the domestic market, confirming the reversal that has been observed for several years.
Economic uncertainty is depressing champagne sales
“Champagne is a real barometer of consumers’ moods,” said the association’s vice-president, Maxime Toubart. “And times are not exactly rosy – between inflation, global conflicts, economic uncertainty and political wait-and-see attitude in some of the largest champagne markets, such as France and the USA.”
Champagne can only be grown in certain areas of France. The approximately 34,000 hectares of cultivated area are located in Champagne, northeast of Paris. The processing of the grapes is strictly regulated. For example, they may only be harvested by hand.
dpa
Source: Stern
