Champagne exports falling
Champagne shipments to all parts of the world are falling as the recession bites according to figures released this week by trade body the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC).
Domestic shipments in October were down by 21% and exports to Europe fell 24% compared with October 2007. Shipments to other countries - principally the USA and Japan but also emerging markets such as India, Russia and China - dropped by 23%.
Last year, 63% of Champagne exports were shipped in the last 3 months - the most important trading period of the year. In Britain the figure is lower with 43% of exports shipped in this period but UK supermarkets look set to enter a Christmas price war with half price deals on promotional Champagnes at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's.
