Total export volumes in the first half of 2016 increased by 3% to 533m 70cl bottles, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said today.
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The equivalent of 533 million 700ml bottles were shipped overseas, up from 517m bottles recorded in the first half of 2015.
Blended whisky, which accounts for the bulk of overall exports, increased 10 per cent in volume terms to 362 million bottles equivalent but declined four per cent in value terms year on year to £1.16 billion.
SWA chief executive David Frost said the export figures showed “strengthening in global consumer demand compared to the last couple of years”, Sky News reported.
The customs value of shipments was down slightly by one per cent to £1.7bn.
Bottled blended Scotch whisky volumes increased by 1% to 362m bottles, but export value dropped 4% to GBP1.16bn.
Meanwhile, the global market for Single Malt Scotch Whisky continued to grow, with export value increasing by 6% to £431m and volume up 3% to 49m bottles.
The figures represented the first time exports have grown in three years but also revealed a slight decline in the value of exports. This drop was much smaller than the decline in value of nearly 3% experienced in the first half of 2015, another clear sign of improvement.
Scotch whisky has gained huge popularity amongst Indians and the country has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing Scotch whisky import markets.
The SWA said the growth of single malt “reflects the continued movement towards premiumisation”.
The growth of exports to India also stood out, with value up 28 per cent to £43 million, despite what the SWA describes as an “exorbitant” 150 per cent basic customs duty in the country.
Scotch whisky accounts for almost a quarter of all British food and drink exports on an annual basis, and around a third of Scotch exports are destined for the EU.EDINBURGH: Scotch whisky exports rose 3.1 percent in the first six months of 2016, driven by booming demand in India, a market that whisky’s trade body says should be a top trade priority for Britain as it navigates its exit from the European Union.
The weakness of the British pound, which fell against major currencies after the vote to leave the European Union on June 23, would boost revenues in sterling from exports in the short term, the SWA predicted.
“We are working closely with our members and government to ensure the industry’s trade priorities are well understood, to promote open markets, and to identify opportunities to grow our exports in the future”, he added.
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However, Frost also highlighted “continued worldwide uncertainty” as he called on the United Kingdom government to ensure a supportive tax and regulatory regime.
