Jan 26 (Reuters) - French spirits maker Remy Cointreau on Friday posted a slightly smaller than expected decline in third quarter sales, citing a sequential improvement in the United States and major destocking in China ahead of the Chinese New Year.

Remy was forced to cut its full-year guidance in October amid falling U.S. sales following a post-COVID boom, while sales growth in China lagged expectations amid a tough economy.

On Friday, it reiterated that it did not expect sales to return to growth in the U.S. before financial year 2024/25, and that sales growth would be tempered by a slower than expected economic recovery in post-pandemic China.

United States and China are the group's two key markets for cognac.

While confirming its forecasts for the year through March, the group said the drop in sales was likely to be at the lower end of the 15% to 20% range announced in October.

The maker of Remy Martin cognac and Cointreau liquor said its sales dropped by 23.5% on an organic basis to 319.9 million euros ($346.7 million) in the third quarter, beating analysts' expectations of 318.6 million in a company-compiled consensus.

Sales of cognac, which makes up a large portion of Remy's revenue, were down 33.9% in the quarter at 197.1 million euros, versus 194.0 million expected by analysts.

Remy's Liqueurs & Spirits division reported quarterly organic growth of 4.3%, driven by good momentum and positive phasing effect in the United States. ($1 = 0.9227 euros) (Reporting by Diana Mandiá; editing by Milla Nissi)