Cognac export volumes slowed last year but raced ahead in value, new figures have shown.
In 2012, Cognac exports increased by 3.2% in volume to a record 168m bottles, and by 16.7% in value, according to Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) data released this week. “These figures reflect the strength of the Cognac category particularly in the export markets of Europe, Asia and North America,” the trade body said.
Cognac shipments to Asia were up by 7.5% in volume and by 22.9% in value, BNIC said.
The figures were an improvement on 2011, when export volumes reached 162.9m bottles, up by 6.4% on 2010, and topping the previous record of 158m bottles set in 2007. Value sales performed even stronger, rising by 7.5% over 2010.
The first two months of this year also showed healthy increases, with export volumes up by 3.9% on the same period last year and by 5% in value, BNIC said. The VSOP category showed the most significant increase, with volumes up by 3.8% and value up by 13.1% since the beginning of this year.
Source: just drinks