Business · Energy & Commodities · 12 hrs ago
Drought cuts French apple harvest by half, putting cider prices under pressure
Drought cut France’s apple production by 50% compared with the previous year, reducing the supply of fruit for cider.
Repeated heatwaves damaged apple trees, including those at a cider farm in Eure, where flowers failed to develop into apples and the remaining fruit yielded little juice.
Producer Emmanuel Hyest harvested about 20% of a usual crop from his 3,000 trees.
His cider tanks are nearly empty, and he is considering raising his bottle price by about 50 cents from €5.15 to cover costs.
Cider makers are asking for higher prices as the shortfall raises concerns about the cost of bottles in 2026.
People in France buy about 100 million bottles of cider each year, and some consumers said they would accept paying more to support producers.
Price negotiations with large retailers are due to begin on December 1, before any price changes are settled.
Drought and repeated heatwaves cut France’s apple harvest in 2025 by 50% compared with the previous year.
Cider producers are calling for higher bottle prices to offset the poor harvest.
A producer in Eure said his crop amounted to about 20% of a normal harvest.
He is considering raising the price of his bottles by about 50 cents from €5.15.
Price negotiations with large retailers are due to begin on 1 December.
- Who
- French cider producers, including Emmanuel Hyest of Cidrerie du Mont Viné.
- What
- Drought cut the apple harvest by 50%, prompting producers to call for higher cider prices.
- When
- The poor harvest was in 2025; the article was published on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- France, including Eure.
- Why
- Repeated droughts and heatwaves damaged apple blossoms and reduced fruit yield and juice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Heat affected the 3,000 apple trees at Emmanuel Hyest’s farm, and the flowers did not develop into apples.
Drought and heatwaves reduced France’s apple harvest by 50% compared with the previous year.
franceinfo reported that producers were seeking higher cider prices.
Price negotiations with large retailers are due to begin.
- Harvest change
- Down 50% compared with 2024
- Hyest’s apple trees
- 3,000
- Hyest’s crop
- About 20% of a normal harvest
- Bottle price
- €5.15, with an increase of about €0.50 under consideration
- French cider sales
- 100 million bottles per year
What people are saying
Les fleurs ont fleuri et ne se sont pas transformées en pommes. Ensuite, on a eu d'autres sécheresses avec de la canicule. Et là, on a eu des petits fruits avec très peu de rendement et peu de jus.
Dans celle-là, 1 500 litres. Là, c'est la récolte de cette année. Donc, vous voyez, ça nous fait, en gros, 20% d'une récolte habituelle.
S'il faut aider, je participe toujours. Il faut aider les producteurs, on en a besoin.
Je serais prêt à payer plus cher, pas de soucis. Après je ne bois pas beaucoup d'alcool, donc c'est juste pour les occasions.