Whisky sector raises glass to growth

Scotch whisky exports have risen by 4% in a year to more than £4 billion, marking a return to growth for the sector.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said the increase means it is “optimistic about the future” but called for a sector deal for Scotland’s national drink in Brexit negotiations to help combat uncertainty.

The industry body’s 2016 export report found overseas sales of Scotch whisky rose by £153 million from 2015 to £4bn last year.

The number of bottles dispatched increased by 4.8% between 2015 and 2016 to more than 1.2bn, meaning almost 39 bottles worth a total of £127 were exported per second.

Both the value and volume of Scotch exports returned to positive annual growth rates for the first time since 2011.

Single malt exports were worth more than £1bn for the first time, up by almost 12% on 2015.

However, bottled blended versions of the drink remains the biggest export category, accounting for 69% of value and volumes exported in 2016.

Last year, Scotch remained the biggest net contributor to the UK’s balance of trade in goods and without its benefit the UK trade in goods deficit would have been 2.8% larger at almost £139bn. SWA acting chief executive Julie Hesketh-Laird said: “We’re feeling optimistic about the future.

“Demand is rising in mature markets, such as the US, and newer markets, including China. This confidence is shown in the number of new distilleries – 14 have been opened in the last few years and we know of about another 40 at various stages of planning.”

The value and volume of whisky exports grew last year.