France still leads US wine imports by value — while the whole shelf shrinks
H1 2026 US wine imports fell to €2.43bn and 536.8m litres (−25.2% value, −16.8% volume). France held €955.8m (39.4%); Italy €790.9m (32.6%) and led volume at 170.2m L. Every major supplier was down versus H1 2025.
Being number one by euros is not the same as growing.
Vinetur, using US customs via IHS and Spain’s OIVE, puts H1 2026 US wine imports at €2.43 billion and 536.8 million litres — down 25.2% in value and 16.8% in volume from H1 2025. France led by value with €955.8 million (39.4%). Italy followed with €790.9 million (32.6%) and led volume with 170.2 million litres.
France took the biggest absolute euro loss while staying on top. Its average price fell 21.1% to €9.66/L. Sparkling still averaged €16.70/L — enough for France to outsell Italy in sparkling value on about one-third of Italy’s sparkling volume. Bottled and sparkling drove French sales.
Every major supplier named in the report posted lower euros and litres versus a year earlier. The story is a smaller US import market, not a French takeover.
Mini-concept: value share can rise or hold while the pie shrinks. Leadership here is relative — France lost the most euros and still wore the crown.
A soft drink aisle rarely celebrates a 25% value crash as “still first.” Fine wine imports just did.
Remember: France €955.8m (39.4%) on a US import market down 25.2% in value; sparkling still €16.70/L.
Source: Vinetur