(TDB) - Cognac exports reached €3.2 billion in 2018 – the equivalent of 204.2 million bottles of Cognac – representing growth of 3% by volume and 2% in value compared with the previous year.

As reported by the BNIC (Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac), this represented the fourth year of consecutive growth for the spirit category, which has rebounded since austerity measures in China hit exports hard from 2013.

With nearly 98% of total production exported, the Cognac appellation continued to grow its export markets in 2018 and witnessed growth of more than 3% in volume and 2% in value. 204.2 million bottles of cognac were exported in total throughout 2018, resulting in a turnover of €3.2bn.

Exports were driven by the expansion of the NAFTA zone (North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico in January 1994), and growing markets in the Far East.