TIL Desk/Business/London/ Britain’s Scotch whisky exports increased in the first half of 2018 to GBP 1.97 billion, a 10.8 per cent rise in the value of exports against the same period last year, with a surge in demand from India leading the upward trend.
According to an analysis of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data published by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) this week, exports to India increased by 44.4 per cent to over GBP 56 million followed by China, which was up by 34.8 per cent to GBP 36.3 million.
The customs figures also show the volume of exports of the exclusive drink from Scotland increased by 5.6 per cent to almost 558 million bottles. The SWA welcomed the “double-digit” growth rates but also urged for tax relief and support for the industry post-Brexit.
“Scotch whisky is a luxury spirit, crafted with care in Scotland, and enjoyed all over the world in established markets like the EU [European Union] and emerging markets like India and China,” said SWA chief executive Karen Betts.
