PARIS (Reuters) -French spirits maker Remy Cointreau on Thursday cut its full year 2025/26 sales and profit goals, citing deteriorating market conditions in its key Chinese market and a weaker-than-expected rebound in sales in the United States.

This came after the maker of Remy Martin cognac and Cointreau liqueur reported a worse-than-expected 11% decline in second-quarter sales, reflecting tougher market conditions in China and a later timing of China's Mid-Autumn Festival.

Sales reached 268.8 million euros ($313.5 million), marking a like-for-like decline of 11% in the July-September period, which compared with average analysts' expectations for a 9% decline in a company-compiled consensus.

Remy said it now expected organic sales growth for the full year 2025/2026 to range from between stable and low single digits - compared to its previous forecast for mid-single-digit percentage organic growth.

The group also now expected an organic decline in full year current operating profit of between low double digits and mid teens, versus a mid-single-digit decline previously forecast.

Remy Cointreau's fiscal year starts on April 1.

($1 = 0.8575 euros)