SCOTCH whisky has had a bumper year globally reporting exports in the billions.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) released its global export figures that show the beverage raked in £5.4bn in 2024.
The equivalent of 1.4bn 70cl bottles of Scotch whisky were exported last year, which amounts to 44 per second.
The figures, released this week, show a decrease of 3.7% on 2023 exports by value but also indicate that exports by volume increased by 3.9%.
The SWA says this reflects the changing trends in global consumer preferences and challenging trading environment.
In the report, the SWA called on the UK and Scottish Governments to provide more support for the industry as distillers warn that the combination of consumer spending pressures, increased domestic tax and regulation, and turbulent global trade may continue to impact exports into 2025.
These calls were echoed by Graham Leadbitter MP who said the Government should heed industry warnings after he secured a Westminster debate on the Government’s support for the Scotch whisky industry. He argued that the current taxation of the beverage is costing the UK Treasury hundreds of millions in lost revenue.
The report showed that India is the world’s number one Scotch whisky export market by volume, with 192m bottles exported.
The United States retained its long-held position as the largest export market by value, worth £971m in 2024.
The US market could be at risk however, as Scotch could be high on the list of potential tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration, according to political analysts.
Exports of Scotch whisky have fluctuated in recent years due in part to global markets going into lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chief executive of the SWA Mark Kent underlined how it’s been a turbulent time for distillers.
“At home, distillers are being stretched to breaking point, as consumers bear the brunt of a 14% increase on the tax on every bottle of Scotch whisky in the last 18 months alone," he said.
"Support for the industry’s global success starts at home. For too long, the industry has been taken for granted, with the misguided and simplistic belief that decisions taken in Scotland and the wider UK won’t impact an industry which exports 90% of its product, supports a large local supply chain and plays a valuable part in attracting tourists to Scotland.
“The UK Government must redouble its efforts to back Scotch producers to the hilt, as promised by the Prime Minister.”
