Scotch whisky is on the rise

The Scotch Whisky Association has just released the latest Scotch whisky export statistics for 2022. The reported figures show not only a recovery from the pandemic, but also a marked increase regardless of the circumstances of the past three years.

1.67 billion bottles were shipped to markets in 174 countries around the world, receipts worth £6.2 billion were booked, and overall single malt Scotch whisky exports were up 30% year-on-year.

6.2 billion pounds
This number must be impressive. After sharp declines in the value of Scotch whisky exports in 2020 and 2021, sales from the best year so far, 2019, have been surpassed. At the time, whisky was sold for a little over £5 billion. Even taking into account the impact of inflation, this is an impressive increase.

53 bottles per second
It may be hard to believe, but on global markets an average of 53 bottles of Scotch whisky were sold every second. This is again markedly higher than a year earlier, when a marked increase from the worst, pandemic 2020 was observed. In 2021, an average of "only" 44 bottles per second were sold.

US leading the way (export value)
The largest buyer of Scotch whisky by value of sales is the United States of America. A total of just over one billion pounds of whiskey was sold to the US last year, a 33 percent increase over the previous year. France came in second, accounting for almost half of the value of exports to the US (£488 million), with a 26% increase from 2021. Singapore, Taiwan, India and China, ranked next, represent exports worth between £316 million and £233 million, respectively. In the category of export value growth, however, it beats everyone in seventh place Panama, to which just over £200 million worth of whiskey was sold (comparable to Germany, next in the ranking). Here there was an increase of 165% over 2021.

India the leader (export volume)
When it comes to the value of exports, the United States wins, as written above. However, in the sales volume category, India wins, to which 219 million bottles of Scotch whisky were shipped from Scotland (in terms of bottles of. 700 ml). There, an increase of 60% over 2021 was recorded. France and the US were next in terms of sales volume. Noteworthy is Poland's eighth place, where 9% more whiskey by volume was exported than in the previous year, which translated into 49 million bottles of. 700 ml. This means that statistically each of our compatriots bought almost a liter of Scotch whisky last year.

Blends rule
The share of blended Scotch whisky in exports for last year is 59.25% by value and 60.97% by volume. Single malt whisky accounts for 32.07% of export value and 10.78% of volume. The remaining 8.68% by value and 28.25% by volume are other types of Scotch whisky (grain and blended malt), including whisky sold wholesale and bottled outside Scotland.

Asia tops
As for the value distribution of world markets, here the situation is more or less even between Asia, the European Union and North America. Out of the total cake, they cut off 29%, 26% and 21% respectively for themselves. In fourth place was Latin America and the Caribbean (12%). The share of other markets is in single digits, with non-EU countries buying only 0.6% of the value of all Scottish exports.

11.000 jobs
Scottish distilling industry to employ as many as 11,000 people in Scotland alone by 2022. Of these, 7,000 are located in rural areas. In addition, 42,000 people find employment in support of the Scottish distilling industry throughout the United Kingdom. In other words, in the British Isles alone, some 50,000 people find employment in the production, bottling and sale of Scotch whisky.

The clear upward trends in Scotch whisky exports are also worth noting because competition is growing virtually worldwide. Two major distilleries have already been launched in China, new distilleries are being established almost daily in dozens of countries around the world, whose products are presenting an increasingly high quality and which are becoming increasingly popular among consumers. Japanese, Taiwanese and Indian whiskies are leading the way, but in Europe, too, it is possible to notice a clear increase in whisky production and its growing popularity. All the more impressive are the statistics, just received from Scotland.

It is undoubtedly an honor for us to be among the entities that have a share - even if small on a global scale - in the market described by such optimistic statistics. Thank you to all our customers. Check in with us regularly. We assure you that we stand on our head to ensure that our offer is second to none in terms of both scope and pricing. Sláinte!


[13.02.2023 / graphic: Scotch Whisky Association]