Champagne exports 2011 reached their second highest volume in five years – with sales close to the peak of 2007. Exports in 2011 were up by 5.1%, rising to a total of 141.2m bottles, the second largest volume ever achieved behind 2007 and only 9.5m bottles less than this peak, according to the latest statistics just released by Champagne’s governing body CIVC.
However because of a slight downturn in domestic sales in France, where the market weakened towards the end of the year, total sales figures rose by just over 1%, to 322.97m bottles.
The best performers in emerging markets were Russia (up 24.5%), China (up 19.4%), and Hong Kong (up 15.1%) – the rate of growth slowed in the second half of 2011; these three markets between them account for 4.1m bottles.
Top performer in emerging markets was India at 58.7% – total shipments to this market reached 290,286 bottles.
Shipments to Belgium and Germany both rose by 8.5% – the best results achieved within Europe.
Shipments to the USA recovered well, rising by 14.4% to 19.4m bottles – still short of the historic peak of 23.2m bottles in 2006.
Shipments to Australia rose to 4.86m bottles.
Michel Letter, head of G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouët, said, ‘2011 was the third best year ever after 1999 and 2007 with total shipments reaching 323m bottles, not bad considering the worldwide economic situation.’
Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses