Chinese lose taste for French wine

Paris – Sales of French wine and spirits to China fell last year, industry figures showed this week, in a further sign that a Chinese economic slowdown is hitting consumption.

The Federation for Wine and Spirit Exporters (FEVS) said direct sales to mainland China, France‘s third-biggest export market, slumped 14.4% in 2018 to $1.13 billion (R15.9 billion). But it said the decline had been partly compensated by an increase in exports to Singapore and Hong Kong, from where some French wine is rerouted to the mainland.

In under 20 years, wine consumption per capita in France has fallen by more than 20%, according to the latest figures from the International Wine Organisation.

The decline is attributed to changing wine-drinking habits – people drink less, but higher quality – as well as a growing taste for rival alcohols such as beer. – AFP