PARIS, Jan 19 — The waning Covid pandemic in many parts of the world helped put people in a celebratory mood, industry leaders said yesterday, driving 2022 Champagne sales to an all-time high above €6 billion (RM27 billion).

The double-digit increase in revenue — up from €5.5 billion in 2021 — was also thanks to having moved further up-market with pricier vintage Champagnes, said the industry association Comite Champagne.

By volume, Champagne sales only rose by 1.6 per cent to 326 million bottles.

The French sparkling wine is indelibly associated with celebrations.

In 2022 "it naturally accompanied consumers throughout the world as they rejoiced at the end of lockdowns and found the taste again for celebrating, going out, travelling,” said David Chatillon, co-president of the Comite Champagne.

Sales had cratered to 244 million bottles in 2020 at the height of the pandemic lockdowns.

Exports continued to rise, climbing 4.3 per cent by volume to 187.5 million bottles, but domestic sales dipped 1.7 per cent.

Exports now account for 57 per cent of sales, up from 45 per cent a decade ago.

The end of exports to Russia had little impact as the market represented under two million bottles per year. — ETX Studio