US tariffs soured Scotch whisky exports last year, with data released today (12 February) showing global shipments down 4%.
According to trade body The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) the value of exports dipped 0.6% but fell 4.3% in volume terms.
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Scotch exports were valued at £5.36bn, with the equivalent of 1.3bn bottles sold.
Volumes to the US dropped more than 9%, hit by US tariffs on UK exports. The value of sales to the US decreased 4% to £933m.
The US levied its 10% tariff on UK exports in April. Between May and December, Scotch export volumes across to the Atlantic were down 15%, with sales by value 7% lower.
SWA chief executive Mark Kent said: “The international trading environment continues to be challenging for Scotch whisky producers, with tariffs and geo-political tension causing significant turbulence in some key markets.”
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By GlobalDataExports to France – the second-largest market for Scotch in value and volume terms – declined on both metrics. The value of sales to France fell 3.6% while volumes slid 14%.
On a brighter note, sales to India rose 15% to £286m on the back on a 15% rise in volumes.
Measured in volumes, India is the largest market for Scotch, with sales standing at 220 million 70cl bottles last year, the SWA data showed.
