Scotch breaks export records in 2010
Scotch whisky exports hit a record £3.45 billion in 2010, up 10% from 2009, the Scotch Whisky Association has reported.
That means export value broke the £100-a-second barrier for the first time, contributing an extra £10 every second to British exports compared to the year before.
Meanwhile export volumes slipped 2% to the equivalent of 1.06 billion 70cl bottles.
The US, which remains Scotch’s largest export market by value, had a strong performance with sales up 19% to £499 million.
The BRIC makrets continued to develop, with exports to Brazil growing 12% to £67 million, China climbing 24% to £55 million, India increasing 46% to £41 million and Russia growing 61% to £31 million.
SWA chief executive Gavin Hewitt said: “Scotch Whisky is a world class industry that consistently delivers for the UK. Global exports increased for the sixth consecutive year and are now 60% higher in value than in 2000. This year’s strong performance – contributing £109 a second to UK exports – demonstrates that distillers are playing a key role in export-led recovery.”
