US spirits exports hit record $2.4bn in 2024
Exports of American spirits reached new heights in 2024, driven by tariff-free trade agreements with the EU.
According to the American Spirits Exports Report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus), US spirits exports increased by nearly 10% in 2024, reaching a record US$2.4 billion.
Exports to the EU increased by 39% last year, while exports to the rest of the world declined by nearly 10%.
The EU was the largest market for US spirits exports, totalling US$1.2 billion. Since 25% tariffs were suspended in 2021, the EU has proven an important market for US spirits brands.
With the threat of tariffs looming large throughout the latest Trump administration, there is fear that growth could be in jeopardy – though the EU recently declared it would make American whiskey and other US spirits exempt from any retaliatory tariffs.
“US spirits exports hit a new high in 2024, recapturing lost market share since the UK and EU lifted retaliatory tariffs that were applied between 2018-2021 in connection with two trade disputes,” Discus president and CEO Chris Swonger said.
“Unfortunately, ongoing trade disputes unrelated to our sector have caused uncertainty, keeping many US distillers on the sidelines and curtailing sales growth.
“The EU’s recent decision not to reimpose a retaliatory tariff on American whiskeys and other US spirits is a positive first step toward getting the US-EU spirits sectors back to zero-for-zero tariffs and untangling spirits from these trade disputes.”
The other largest markets for US spirits are Canada (US$221 million), the UK (US$137m), Australia (US$131m), and Mexico (US$126m).
Exports of American whiskey declined by 5.4% in 2024, but still accounted for 54% of all US spirits exports, totalling US$1.3bn.
The top five markets for American whiskey exports were the EU (US$699m), Australia (US$113m), the UK (US$86m), Japan (US$79m), and Canada (US$73m).
The report also found that distilled spirits were exported from 43 states. The top exporting states were Tennessee (US$934m), Kentucky (US$751m, Texas (US$354m), Florida (US$334m), and Indiana (US$142m). Illinois, California, Arkansas, Maine, and New York rounded out the top 10.
In 2024, exports of cordials and vodka reached new records as well, with cordials rising by 128% to US$367m and vodka increasing by 82% to US$292m.
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