Weak sales in US and Asia hit exports of Scotland’s tipple
A DECADE of strong growth in scotch whisky exports came to an end last year as overseas sales fell, according to new figures.
The Scotch Whisky Association announced yesterday that HM Revenue and Customs data showed exports fell seven per cent to £3.95bn in 2014.
The decline was in part due to a sharp drop in exports to the US, the biggest market for scotch by value, where sales fell by nine per cent to £748m.
The volume of global exports also fell by three per cent to 1.19bn 70cl bottles.
Sales were also hit by Russian sanctions and a corruption crackdown in China – where giving Scotch as a gift became illegal – took its toll.