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Top 10 Scotch export markets by value 2023
Scotch whisky exports in 2023 were up compared with pre-pandemic levels, but markedly down versus 2022. But which were the biggest international destinations by value?
Recent data released by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) showed Scotch whisky exports were up 14% by value last year compared with 2019 figures.
This was a decline on 2022, which was described as a ‘bumper year’ as global markets reopened and restocked following pandemic lockdowns. In 2022, exports reached record heights, exceeding £6 billion (US$7.5bn) for the first time.
Total global export figures fell to £5.6bn (US$7bn). Volume-wise, exports equated 1.35bn 700ml bottles.
Below, we outline the top 10 export markets by value in 2023, as reported by the SWA.
10. Turkey
Shipments to Scotch whisky’s 10th biggest export market, Turkey, rose by almost a quarter last year (24%) to reach £131 million (US$165.3m). Compared with 2019, this represented a 178% increase, as exports were worth £47m during the pre-pandemic year.
9. Japan
A slight decline of 3% took Scotch’s export value to Japan to £170m (US$214.5m) in 2023, down from £175m (US$220.8m) in 2022. However, the 2023 export value was 16% higher than in 2019 (£147m).
8. Spain
Exports by value rose by 7% in 2023 to reach £184m (US$232.3m). This also showed a 2% increase on pre-pandemic levels, when Scotch exports to Spain were worth £180m.
7. Germany
A 2% decline in exports to Germany took Scotch whisky’s value from £202m (US$254.9m) in 2022 to £197m (US$248.6m) in 2023. However, exports by value are still up 7% compared with 2019 (£185m).
6. India
Value exports of Scotch whisky to India plummeted by more than a fifth (22.5%) in 2023, falling to £218m (US$275.1m). In 2022, India imported £282m (US$355.9m) worth of Scotch. However, since 2019 exports have risen by almost a third in value, up by 31% from £166m.
5. China
Scotch whisky exports to China have come on leaps and bounds since 2019, when value sat at £89m. Value exports in 2023 were 165% higher than they were in 2019 and reached £235m (US$296.6m) last year – a 1% rise compared with 2022.
4. Taiwan
Taiwan has seen its imports of Scotch whisky grow by more than £100m since 2019, when the category’s imports were worth £300m. From 2019 to 2023, exports by value rose by 65%. In 2023, the value of Scotch exports to Taiwan hit £341m (US$430.3m) – an 8.3% increase on 2022.
3. Singapore
Scotch exports by value to Singapore were worth £378m (US$477.1m) last year, representing a 19% spike compared with 2022. This also demonstrates a 26% increase compared with 2019, when exports were worth £300m.
2. France
France is the second-biggest market by value for the Scotland’s whisky industry, despite value dropping by 3% last year. The category’s exports were worth £474m (US$598.2m) in France last 2023, 10% higher than the £432m in 2019.
1. US
While Scotch exports soar ahead in the US, they dropped below the billion-pound mark in 2023. Exports by value declined from 2022 to 2023, and when comparing 2023 with 2019.
In 2019, Scotch exports were worth £1.07bn, but had slipped to £1.053bn (US$1.3bn) by 2022. In comparison, Scotch exports in 2023 were worth £978m (US$1.2bn), representing a 7% decline from 2022-2023.
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