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French barrel producers achieved slightly higher sales last year. While domestic sales fell by twelve percent due to the small harvest in France, exports rose by nine percent. The Covid crisis, the many wildfires in Australia and California and the French frosts had made the year very difficult for the 58 coopers of the industry association.
According to the association's figures, the barrel makers sold just under 504,000 barriques with a turnover of 391.3 million euros, as well as 1,861 larger barrels with a turnover of 31.2 million euros. France with 32 per cent and the USA with 25 per cent are the two most important customers, according to the association. They are followed by Italy with eight per cent by value and volume and Spain with 7 per cent by value and volume.
"These first results after the harvest bode well", emphasises Jean-Luc Sylvain, President of the Association of Coopers of France. A satisfactory southern hemisphere campaign and earlier-than-usual sales in the USA had reassured business, he said. "Indicators will be in the green if the costs of raw materials, energy and transport remain contained," Sylvain said.
(uka / Photo: Wikipedia)