MP welcomes 'record high' for whisky exports

Exports of Scotch whisky reached record levels last year, according to figures from an industry body.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said the value of exports reached a new high of £2.8bn, earning £90 every second for the UK balance of trade.

The value of exports to India rose by 36% to £33m, while exports to the European Union went up by 27%.

The SWA said export volume was also up, with the equivalent of 1,135 million bottles of Scotch whisky exported.

The figures have been welcomed by the SNP.

Angus Robertson MP, whose Moray constituency contains more than half of all malt whisky production, described it as "tremendous news".

He added: “The whisky industry is going from strength to strength around the globe. Everybody involved in whisky production, marketing and sales should be tremendously proud of their efforts.

“It is ironic that, while the rest of the world is boosting the industry, at home the UK Labour government is undermining the domestic sector by hiking tax rates on Scotland’s premium product.”

Note:

Scotch Whisky exports earned £90 every second for the UK last year, with the value of shipments increasing by 14% to reach a new record of £2.8bn, according to figures published today by The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

The SWA revealed export volume was also at a historic high in 2007, growing 8%, with the equivalent of 1,135 million bottles of Scotch Whisky shipped overseas.

Bottled Blended Scotch Whisky exports broke the £2bn barrier for the first time, with shipment value up 15% (to £2.22bn). Bottled Malt exports also rose by 11% in value (to £454m).

Exports to most regions increased over the year, with shipments to Central & South America (+4% in value), Asia (+4.5%), North America (+5.5%) and the European Union (+27%) all growing. Tariff reform in the middle of 2007 gave exports to India - a key emerging market – a welcome boost, up 36% in value (to £33m). South Africa’s rapid rise into the industry’s top ten markets continued, with exports up a further 9% in value (to £91m).