Asia-Pacific consumes greatest amount of spirits

The Asia-Pacific region is the largest spirits market in the world, accounting for over half of all spirits consumed, according to research by the IWSR.

The Asia-Pacific region accounted for almost 63% of all spirits consumed across the world in 2012

After being commissioned by organisers of the international wine and spirits exhibition Vinexpo, the IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research) discovered that the region consumed almost 63% of the total volume of spirits drunk in the world in 2012.

Spirits volumes were found to have grown 55% in the Asia-Pacific region between 2008 and 2012.

Figures also show that the worldwide consumption of vodka decreased by 6% over the last five years as demand slows in Russia, but the IWSR predicts that consumption will grow 2.5% over the next five years.

While China’s staple spirit Baijiu accounted for 38% of the total volume of spirits consumed worldwide, the IWSR found that an increasing number of consumers across the world were turning to brandy, rum, Bourbon and Tequila.

Brandy consumption grew 45.6% between 2008 and 2012, with the Philippines doubling its consumption.

Bourbon consumption increased by 16% during the same period, performing particularly well in the US, Germany, Australia and the UK, while Tequila consumption grew 11.8%.

Worldwide consumption of whisky also returned to growth between 2009 and 2012 after declining in 2008 and 2009. In particular, Scotch sales have continued to fall in the UK, US and Spain, but has grown 55.5% in Brazil.

The IWSR predicts that spirits volumes will continue to grow in the Asia-Pacific region between 2013 and 2017 by 9.04%, a marked difference to the volume growth between 2008 and 2013.

As reported in the drinks business, this year’s Vinexpo (taking place 27-29 May in Hong Kong) will place a greater emphasis on spirits to capitalise on the category’s growth in Asia.