The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has revealed that global exports of Scotch fell by -0.6% in value to £5.36 billion (US$7.31bn) in 2025. The trade body attributed the decline to significant challenges, including a -4.3% drop in volume and the impact of tariffs in the crucial United States market.
Exports in 2025 were equivalent to 1.3 billion bottles. This represents a decline from the £5.4bn recorded in 2024.
The industry’s most valuable market, the United States, saw export value fall by -4% to £933m. The SWA highlighted the acute effect of a 10% tariff implemented in April 2025, which saw export volume to the country fall by -15% between May and December.
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READ THE STORYFurther tariff pressure is a concern, with the potential for a rise to 35% in July. This is linked to the end of a five-year suspension of a 25% single malt tariff stemming from the historic Boeing-Airbus dispute.
Mark Kent, chief executive of the SWA, said: “The international trading environment continues to be challenging for Scotch Whisky producers, with tariffs and geo-political tension causing significant turbulence in some key markets.”
He noted domestic pressures are also mounting.
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“At home, the industry faces soaring costs, from year-on-year duty increases to new packaging taxes,” Kent continued. “Our member companies tell us they are under strain not felt for decades, and that support is vital to weather the storm.”
The SWA has warned that some distilleries are already halting or reducing production, with job losses occurring in the industry and its supply chain.
Kent stated that the “finalisation of a deal to return zero-tariff trade to the US, vigorously pursuing trade deals with Thailand, Mercosur and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and no further tax increases in the UK must be immediate priorities.”
He concluded: “It is within both the UK and Scottish Governments’ power to facilitate the supportive environment producers need, boosting and sustaining growth for Scotch Whisky and the wider economy, and we stand ready to work in partnership to achieve that aim.”
According to the SWA, the largest export destinations for Scotch Whisky by value in 2025 (vs 2024) were:
United States: £933m (-4% on 2024)
France : £404m (-3.6% on 2024)
India: £286m (+15% on 2024)
Singapore: £274m (-11.6% on 2024)
Turkey: £255m (+43% on 2024)
Taiwan : £233m (-22% on 2024)
Spain: £208m (+6% on 2024)
Germany: £177m (+4.6% on 2024)
China: £161m (-0.3% on 2024)
UAE: £155m (+7% on 2024)
The largest export destinations for Scotch Whisky, defined by volume, 70cl bottles equivalent, in 2025 were:
India: 220m 70cl bottles (+15% on 2024)
France : 152m 70cl bottles (-14% on 2024)
United States: 120m 70cl bottles (-9% on 2024)
Germany: 59m 70cl bottles (+5.8% on 2024)
Brazil: 54m 70cl bottles (+3.3% on 2024)
Japan: 54m 70cl bottles (-27% on 2024)
Spain: 54m 70cl bottles (-8.4% on 2024)
Turkey: 53m 70cl bottles (+13% on 2024)
Poland: 43m 70cl bottles (-10.3% on 2024)
China: 34m 70cl bottles (+14% on 2024)
