Find out how to reduce transport risks when shipping your wines, both in France and abroad.

Geopolitical crises, fluctuating exchange rates, rising raw material prices - all of these can put the health of businesses at risk. Exports of French wines and spirits have achieved record sales, thanks to digital marketing strategies and the export opportunities. Despite soaring production costs and logistical disruptions, according to the French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS), French wine and spirits exports reached record sales of 17.2 billion euros in 2022 versus 11 billion euros in 2021 📈, while Italian and Spanish exports weighed in at 7 billion and 3 billion euros respectively. Although volumes shipped fell by 3.8%, higher bottle prices, particularly for Champagne and grands crus, led to a 10.8% year-on-year increase in sales value.

What are the shipping regulations and requirements for wines and spirits?

Exporting wines, spirits and beers offers considerable opportunities for companies in the sector. However, these shipments also come with unique risks, ranging from complex customs regulations to product fragility. The One-Stop-Shop and UE directive 2020-262 recently introduced as measures designed to help wine companies penetrate new markets while preserving the quality of their products and simplifying administrative procedures. Our team is on hand to support you throughout your shipments, and we've put together a number of country sheets to help you decide which documents to provide. These can be accessed from the “Ressources” section of your eShipping extranet. Here are a few explanatory articles we've written to help you understand these devices:

• ✈️ Protect your bottles.
• 🇪🇺 UE directive 2020-262.
• 📩 One-stop-shop.

How to choose the most appropriate shipping method?

Building strong partnerships with reliable carriers and experienced logistics providers is crucial to ensuring smooth shipping. Implementing real-time tracking and transparent communication throughout the supply chain helps reduce the transport risks associated in wines, including :

• 🌡️ Temperature monitoring for heat-sensitive wines.
  • Wine in Block
  • La vie du vin
  • eProvenance
• 📆 Managing delivery times.
• 🚛 Regular communication with carriers.
• 🍾 The assurance that products are treated with care.

The choice of the most appropriate shipping method is made according to various criteria: quantity, destination, and the delivery deadline. If necessary, our teams are there to guide you towards the method best suited to your needs.

What packaging and labelling is recommended for shipping?

Product fragility in wines transport is the primary risk factor when shipping, reduce these risks is a delicate matter. Investing in high-quality, shock- and vibration-resistant packaging is essential to protect bottles during transport. Reinforced cardboard boxes, sturdy wooden crates and wedges to hold bottles in place can help prevent breakage. This is why we take care to provide you with the reinforced cardboard boxes with individual inserts, included in our offer.  

How manage documentation and administrative formalities?

A thorough understanding of customs, tax and trade regulations in each target country is essential to avoid delays and costly penalties. We've decided to simplify this process, and now all documents are transmitted directly to the carrier within our extranet to facilitate customs and administrative formalities, enabling us to anticipate every step of the process for you. By working closely with legal and tax experts specializing in international trade, companies can ensure that all necessary documents and licenses are in order, guaranteeing full compliance with local requirements. It was with this in mind that our partnership with @Eurotax was born.

How to optimize shipping costs?

Trade restrictions and exchange rate fluctuations can cause losses, which can be mitigated with financial tools like currency hedges. Embassies, chambers of commerce, and trade organizations can help with regulatory compliance, helping to reduce wines transport risks associated with international expansion. To optimize wine export costs, it is crucial to adopt a strategic approach focused on operational efficiency:

• 🌎 By grouping shipments to a single destination and negotiating preferential rates with international carriers.
• 📦 Efficient inventory management, the use of integrated logistics platforms, and meticulous route planning.
• 🚚 Understand preferential trade regimes, automate export-related processes, and choose the right insurance.
• 📊 By regularly monitoring spending and adjusting strategy in line with economic changes.

These various measures contribute to proactive cost management, enabling exporters to maintain their competitiveness in the global marketplace while ensuring quality service to their international customers. Try our extranet, choose the carrier best suited to your needs, whether by price, lead time or destination.

What are the current trends in the wine and spirits export market?

Wine and spirits producers are increasingly turning to digital technologies to market their products and increase their visibility. Digital marketing strategies, including social media and e-commerce platforms, have become essential tools for reaching consumers on a global scale. The emergence of BtoB e-commerce platforms in the wine industry has enhanced product visibility and accessibility. These strengthened business-to-business relationships, simplified commercial transactions and optimized inventory and logistics management.

How to protect yourself against the risks of international shipping?

Implementing a robust tracking system to monitor the flow of goods through the supply chain in real time can enable rapid intervention in the event of potential problems. Taking out appropriate insurance for your goods is a crucial step in protecting the value of products. In the event of damage or loss during transport, comprehensive insurance can cover help mitigate financial costs in the event of an incident. Our ad valorem insurance covers your bottles for up to 100% of their value, to avoid any major loss for your company. While the challenges of exporting cannot be eliminated, implementing sound prevention strategies and using specialized resources can help companies navigate the complex world of exporting with confidence, preserving their financial health and competitive position on the international stage. By applying these prudent practices, companies can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by exporting.