SCOTCH WHISKY STILL SOARING

SCOTCH WHISKY exports remained strong in 2O13  and Single Malt continued to increase in popularity, according to published figures by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). In value terms, last year Scotch Whisky exports were steady at £4.3 billion ($US 7.27 billion). In volume terms, exports increased 3% to the equivalent of 1.3bn bottles in 2O13 from 1.2bn bottles the previous year. Single Malt exports were up 5% in 2O13 to reach a record £82Om, nearly a fifth of exports by value. Overall, Scotch Whisky represents around 85% of Scottish food and drink exports and nearly a quarter of the British total. Exports to the US grew 8% on 2O12 to a record £819 million (US $1.38 billion). This is by far the largest market for Scotch by value. The efforts to boost trade with the US through the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could help this even further. France remains the largest volume market for Scotch. It was up 16% as it returned to normal following a tax hike on spirits at the start of 2O12. In India, the year was the best one yet. It is the fourth biggest market by volume and fourteenth by value, up 12% to £69m. The SWA hopes the EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations will re-start following this year’s Indian elections, leading to a reduction of the onerous 15O% import tariff. Exports to Brazil and Mexico grew by around 2O%. In Poland, exports grew 38% to £6Om.