The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Alcohol: Exports of Scotland’ s national drink hit £1.96 billion this year
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has used a leap of more than 10% in the value of international sales to press its case for a duty freeze on Scotland’s national drink in its domestic market.
Renewing the SWA’s demands for the move in this month’s Autumn Budget as new figures showed scotch exports hit £1.96 billion in the first half of this year, chief executive, Karen Betts, said the industry needed support
“£3 in every £4 spent on scotch in the UK is collected in tax”
at home to continue flourishing overseas.
Bolstered by increasing world-wide demand for single malts, increases of 44% in India and 36% in Latvia contributed to a 10.8% rise in the value of exports in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year, according to HMRC figures.
The volume of whisky exported also rose 5.6% over the same period, to almost 558m bottles.
Single malts now make up 28% of the value of scotch exports. Overseas sales of blended whiskies rose 8.9% to 1.26bn.
Ms Betts, said: “It’s hugely encouraging to see scotch whisky exports continue to grow – and at double-digit rates – in the first half of this year.
“Scotch whisky is a luxury spirit, crafted with care in Scotland, and enjoyed all over the world – in established markets like the EU and emerging markets like India and China.”
She continued: “As the UK leaves the EU, the industry wants to continue to trade with the EU as easily as it has while being able to pursue growth opportunities globally.
“But in order to flourish overseas, the industry needs support at home.
“Competitive tax rates are crucial, enabling producers to start-up, scaleup and invest for growth, such that they continue to be the dynamic jobcreators, employers, taxgenerators and exporters that they are.
“Right now, £3 in every £4 spent on scotch in the UK is collected in tax by HM Treasury. The industry believes this tax burden is too high, and is more likely to stifle growth than nurture it.”