The Loire was able to increase its wine exports in 2024 in terms of both value and volume. The industry association InterLoire reported this at the end of April. Export value rose by 5.9% to €200m, thus reaching its highest level since 2000. Export volume increased by 5% to 400,000 hl. The region thus performed significantly better than overall French wine exports, which fell by 0.1% in value and 4% in volume in 2024.
"Exports are a real growth engine for our industry. We are proud of the good results of 2024, which have made us one of the most dynamic French wine-growing regions abroad," commented Camille Masson, President of InterLoire. "This trend is the result of our collective efforts to promote the quality of our wines internationally and is one of the main objectives of our industry plan. With an export sales share of 22%, we are moving a step closer to our goal set within our 'Loire 2030' plan, which is to reach an export share of 30% by 2030."
Germany and sparkling wine show growth
The export volume of 55m bottles has now reached the 400,000 hl mark for the third time in 25 years. In 2023, the export share was still at 20%. Of the 160 export markets for Loire wines, more than half of the export volume went to three countries: Germany (22%), the United States (16%), and Belgium (14%), followed by the United Kingdom (13%) and Canada (7%). With the exception of the United Kingdom and Denmark, all export markets recorded an increase, notably the United States (+6.7%), Belgium (+5.4%), and Germany (+2.3%).
Traditionally, the German preference for Loire wines is strongly concentrated on sparkling wines, which account for 89% of total Loire imports into Germany, followed by white wines (7%) and red/rosé wines (4%).
Sparkling wines from the Loire recorded the strongest increase among wine types at 12%; they accounted for 35% of the export volume last year. White wines followed, also growing (+4%) and accounting for 43% of exports. The volume of dry red and rosé wines (–5%) and off-dry rosé wines (–2%), however, decreased. The value of Loire wine exports rose in the seven most important markets and, in 2024, was 70% concentrated in five countries: the USA (21%), Germany (18%), the UK (13%), Belgium (10%), and Canada (8%). SP
