France's farm ministry has raised its projection for this year's wine output to 36.2 million hectolitres, which makes it unchanged from last year's historically low output, as a summer heatwave and drought reduced harvest volumes.

The projected harvest is 16 per cent below the five-year average, marking the second consecutive year of significantly reduced yields.

"The harvest is over and the impact of the August heatwave on grape volumes is clear," the ministry said in a report.

Extreme heat and persistent drought in August accelerated grape ripening and dried out fruit, leading to earlier harvests and smaller yields across the country, it said.

France is the world's second-largest wine producer after Italy and the leading exporter by value. Its wine output has been hit by adverse weat

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