China Champagne market to keep an annual growth of 0.3% in future years

Champagne is rebounding faster from the global economic downturn than following previous crises, but the industry still faces a challenge to win over emerging market consumers, according to Champagne Jacquart's CEO.

In 2010, total Champagne sales rose by 9% in volume to 319.5m bottles. Value sales increased by 8%, to EUR4bn (US$5.64bn).

However, Champagne producers know that there is much work left to be done, particularly in emerging markets. 

The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), confirmed that it has opened an office in Russia. It plans to open one in Brazil later this year, giving it a presence in all countries within the so-called BRIC quartet of Brazil, Russia, India and China.

In 2009, the BRIC countries only accounted for 1.9m litres of global Champagne sales, less than 1% of the total, according to figures from market research group Datamonitor.

What's more, Champagne volume sales in the BRIC bloc is forecast to remain flat up to 2014. According to Datamonitor forecasts, published in late-2010, Champagne volumes in Russia will fall by 5% per year up to 2014, while China will only report annual growth of 0.3%. The forecasts mark a considerable slowdown from annual growth rates in the same countries between 2004 and 2009.