Scotch Exports To The U.S. Slip 3.5% In The First Half of 2024

Scotch whisky exports to the U.S. were down 3.5% to £421.4 million/$552.74m in the first half of this year, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), with volume slipping 7.6% to 54.6 million 700-ml. bottles/4.6m cases. Globally, scotch shipments dropped 18% by value during H1 to £2.1 billion/$2.75b.

The U.S. is the most valuable export market for scotch. “The H1 figures clearly show that our biggest market, the U.S., has not fully stabilized following Covid and the damage caused by the 25% tariff on single malt in the U.S.,” said SWA chief executive Mark Kent. Kent pointed to the lasting effects of the 25% single malt scotch tariffs in place in the U.S. from October 2019 to March 2021, noting that the industry lost £600 million/$787m) in exports as well as market share during this costly period.

The group is pressing for permanent elimination of the tariffs, going beyond the current five-year pause. “The permanent elimination of this tariff, going beyond the current five-year suspension, would remove uncertainty, give the industry increased confidence, and allow our full focus to be on growing in this highly competitive spirits market,” said Kent.

Scotch’s high-value markets outside the U.S. also faced challenges in H1, with four of the top five markets declining. Second-ranked France saw the greatest contraction, with shipments dropping 32.6% to £158.5 million/$207.9. Third and fourth-ranked Singapore and Taiwan both declined by over 20%. Only India, the fifth-largest market for scotch, was on the rise, increasing 11.9% to £105.7 million/$138.7m.