Spirits makers exposed to China's EU brandy probe

Reuters

Spirits makers exposed to China's EU brandy probe

1:44 chiều giờ GMT, 29 Tháng 8 2024

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Recasts with China decision, adds potential tariffs per brands

Aug 29 (Reuters) -China said on Thursday it would not imposeprovisional tariffs on brandy imported from the European Union for now, leaving open the possibility that it may act at some time in the future.

It hadlaunched an anti-dumping investigation in January, a step that appeared to be mainly targeted at France.

Below are some facts about China's brandy imports and European companies exposed to the market.

CHINA'S TASTE FOR BRANDY

China imported $1.57 billion worth of spirits from distilled grape wine in 2023 through November. France accounted for 99% of China's brandy imports last year.

In 2022, brandy made up the largest portion of imported spirits in China at 37.5 million litres, according to a Daxue Consulting report.

China counts a dozen local producers of brandy, most of them small-scale. The biggest domestic producer is Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co Ltd 000869.SZ that makes Koya brandy.

EXPOSED COMPANIES

Remy Cointreau RCOP.PA

The French spirits maker, which produces Remy Martin cognac, derived 30% of its group sales, or 464.6 million euros ($507.1 million), from China in fiscal year 2022/2023.

If implemented, Remy Martin could face import tariffs of 38.1%, based onlist of dumping margins per firm published by China's Commerce Ministry.

Pernod Ricard PERP.PA

China accounted for about 10%, or 1.21 billion euros, of Pernod Ricard's group sales in 2022/2023. Cognac brands like Martell make the bulk of Pernod's sales in the country, and it also sells whisky.

Martell could incur import tariffs of 30.6%

Diageo DGE.L

China accounted for 3%, or 513.4 million pounds ($650.8 million), of Diageo's sales in 2023. Jefferies analysts said the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky has no direct exposure to China cognac, but they estimated an indirect exposure at 2-3% of net income through its stake in a joint venture with luxury giant LVMH LVMH.PA.

Hennessey, owned by LVMH, could incur import tariffs of 39%.

Campari CPRI.MI

Last month, the Italian spirits group agreed to buy French cognac brand Courvoisier, aimed at expanding its footprint in China, which represents about 9% of Courvoisier's revenues. The deal is expected to close this year.

($1 = 0.9162 euros)

($1 = 0.7889 pounds)

Compiled by Michal Aleksandrowicz, Dagmarah Mackos and Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk
Editing by Milla Nissi and Andrea Ricci

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