Champagne Shipments in 2023: 299 Million Bottles, Generating Over 6 Billion Euros in Revenue. [read the full champagne story]
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
In 2023, the total shipments of Champagne reached 299 million bottles, indicating an 8.2% decline compared to the previous year. Despite this decrease, Champagne successfully returned to shipment levels reminiscent of the pre-health crisis era.
To grasp the significance of this, it’s imperative to delve into the figures from preceding years. In 2019, the Champagne industry dispatched 297.3 million bottles. However, the subsequent year, 2020, witnessed a steep sales decline, plummeting by 18% due to the Covid-19 crisis. Nevertheless, the years 2021 and 2022 marked a remarkable recovery, boasting a 33% surge in sales over two years, reaching a culmination of more than 325 million bottles by the end of 2022.
In 2023, France, retaining its status as the primary market for Champagne, experienced an 8.2% dip, with 127 million bottles sold. This decline is attributed, in part, to inflation impacting household budgets throughout the year, consequently influencing Champagne consumption in the domestic market.
Conversely, Champagne exports also saw an 8.2% decrease, with 172 million bottles sold in 2023 compared to the preceding year. It is noteworthy that this figure substantially surpasses the 2019 level, which stood at 156 million bottles. The export performance is particularly noteworthy as exports now constitute over 57% of total Champagne sales, a considerable increase from 45% a decade ago. This surge can be partially attributed to distributors overstocking in 2022 due to apprehensions of shortages, consequently influencing the 2023 figures.
Sustaining Revenue
Despite the decline in volumes, Champagne successfully upheld its turnover above 6 billion euros, primarily driven by the upscale shift in vintages, particularly for the export market. This strategic move compensated for the decrease in volumes by focusing on the sales of higher-quality products.
Maxime Toubart, president of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons and co-president of the Champagne Committee, expressed satisfaction with this return to normalcy, stating,
‘Champagne is an appellation of origin produced in a delimited area and adheres to strict rules, making it challenging to sustain substantial volume growth.’
According to David Chatillon, president of the Union of Champagne Houses and co-president of the Champagne Committee,
‘the anticipated decline, accompanied by maintained value, leaves Champagne optimistic for the future, despite its sensitivity to geopolitical contexts and the evolution of the world economy.’
In summary, the Champagne industry in France has adeptly navigated the challenges of recent years, restoring stability in 2023 through a strategic emphasis on quality and export.
