Scotch Whisky Exports to the U.S. Rise In Volume, Fall In Value

Scotch whisky exports to the U.S. totaled £971 million/$1.2 billion last year. This is a 0.7% decrease in dollar sales compared to 2023 despite a 3.7% increase in volume to 132 million 700-ml bottles/11 million cases, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The largest export market for scotch in value terms, the U.S. has seen shipment value decline by 9% since 2019.

The gap between higher volumes and lower value reflects the tough trading environment in the markets right now, the SWA said.

The higher-priced single malt scotch category decreased slightly in the U.S. last year. “2024 marked the halfway point for the five-year suspension of tariffs on single malt scotch whisky set to end in 2026,” the SWA noted, adding that it continues to “encourage the U.K. and U.S. administrations to work together to resolve the underlying trade disputes and secure the long-term stability and growth of the scotch whisky industry in this global top market.”

Globally, scotch export values were down 3.7% to £5.4 billion/$6.8 billion, while volume increased 3.9% to 1.4 billion 700-ml bottles/117 million cases. Among the category’s key markets beyond the U.S., France, Singapore, and Taiwan all declined by double-digits, while India, Spain, Japan, and Turkey were on the rise.