US cuts spending on French wine by 9.8% as exports fall 2.2% in H1 2026

French wine exports contracted in both value and volume in the first half of 2026, according to French customs figures analysed by Spain's Interprofessional Wine Organisation (OIVE) and reported by Vinetur. Foreign sales came to 5.4 billion euros, 2.2% below the year-earlier level, on 618.9 million litres, down 1.5%. The average export price eased 0.7% to 8.74 euros per litre.

OIVE describes the French decline as more contained than the drop recorded by Italy over the same months, although the direction of trade was the same for both of Europe's leading exporters. The start of the year brought less momentum for several large producing countries.

Sparkling wine the only category to grow

Sparkling wine, which accounts for more than a third of French wine exports, was the exception in an otherwise negative balance. The category reached 1.9 billion euros, up 2.6%, on 99.4 million litres, up 6%. The volume gain did not translate into stronger pricing: the average price for sparkling fell 3.2% to 19.19 euros per litre, meaning the additional litres moved on weaker terms than a year earlier.

United States buys more litres for less money

The United States remained the first destination for French wine by value at 1 billion euros, but spending fell 9.8%. By volume the trend runs the other way: American buyers took 95.3 million litres, 4.3% more than a year earlier, keeping the US first on both measures. A rising litre count against a falling invoice points to demand concentrating in lower price brackets.

The United Kingdom ranked second by value at 704.6 million euros, up 3.8%, and third by volume at 76.7 million litres, up 8.5%, one of the stronger performances among established markets. Germany was third by value at 333.8 million euros, down 11.3%, and second by volume at 78.8 million litres, down 6.1%. Japan held flat at 292.5 million euros.

Other leading destinations by value

• Belgium: 290.4 million euros, down 4.7%, on 56.8 million litres, down 6.9%
• Canada: 239.3 million euros, down 4.5%, on 31.6 million litres, down 2.4%
• Switzerland: 233 million euros, down 12%
• Singapore: 229 million euros, up 8.4%
• Netherlands: 207.3 million euros, up 0.9%, on 48.7 million litres, down 6.7%
• Hong Kong: 179.1 million euros, up 17.8%

China took 14.1 million litres, 11.1% less than a year earlier. The ranking shows divergent paths by destination, with declines across several consolidated European markets and gains in Asian hubs and the United Kingdom.

Packaged wine slips, bulk falls faster

Packaged wine, a category that covers sparkling, bottled and bag-in-box, ended the half-year down 2.1% in value and 0.7% in volume, at 5,321 million euros and 558.9 million litres. Its average price stood at 9.52 euros per litre, 1.3% lower than a year earlier.

Bulk wine recorded a sharper contraction. France sold 88.9 million euros abroad in this category, down 7.9%, on 59.9 million litres, down 8%. The average price was almost unchanged, edging up 0.1% to 1.48 euros per litre, indicating the decline came from volumes rather than from price competition.

Taken together, the figures describe an export book losing value faster than litres. Sparkling wine is defending its share of the total but at thinner unit prices, the largest single market is trading down, and the second and third markets by value are moving in opposite directions.