US spirits exports slipped in 2025 as trade disputes disrupted shipments to key markets, according to the country's principal sector body.
The value of US spirits exports declined 3.8% year on year to $2.37bn, data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) shows.
In a statement, DISCUS said the “decline was driven primarily by downturns in two key established markets”, Canada and the EU.
Exports to Canada fell after several provinces removed American-made spirits from retail shelves in March last year.
Between March and December, shipments to Canada dropped 70% year-on-year, from $203m in 2024 to $60m over the same period in 2025.
Alberta and Saskatchewan later resumed sales but most provinces have kept restrictions in place.
Excluding Canada, US spirits exports increased 2.5% in 2025, highlighting Canada’s outsized impact on the overall result.
The EU remained the largest export destination, taking $1.2bn of US spirits, around 51% of the total, despite a 2.8% fall in export sales to the bloc.
Exports of American whiskey exports to the EU fell 35% to $454m.
DISCUS said the drop likely reflects “front-loading” in late 2024 as producers accelerated shipments ahead of potential retaliatory tariffs from the EU against US action.
DISCUS president and CEO Chris Swonger said the overall decline in US spirits exports “underscores the industry’s vulnerability to uncertainty in the global trade environment and the vital importance of restoring the permanent return to zero-for zero tariffs on spirits products”.
Trade uncertainty in Europe continues.
A proposed 30% EU tariff on all American spirits, linked to broader disputes over autos and US steel and aluminium tariffs, has been suspended twice, most recently until 6 August this year.
A separate threat of a 50% tariff on American whiskeys due on 1 April 2025 was ultimately not imposed.
Gains in other markets partially offset weakness in Canada and Europe. Exports to the rest of the world rose 13.2%, helped by growth in Brazil and the UK.
The top five destinations for US spirits exports were the EU ($1.2bn), the UK ($153m), Australia ($138m), Mexico ($127m) and Canada ($89m), together accounting for 72% of sales.
By category, American whiskey remained the leading US spirits export at $1.08bn, even as export sales fell 19% in 2025.
American whiskey's share of total exports slid to a record low of 45%, the first time it has dropped below 50% since 1996. Liqueurs and cordials were next at $511m.
Vodka and rum each slipped 3% to $282m and $90m, while gin fell 13% to $48m. Brandy bucked the trend, rising 57% to $35m.
