India Emerges As One of the World’s Fastest Growing Scotch Whisky Importers

According to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), India is one of the world’s fastest growing Scotch whisky import markets with a value up 28% to 43 million pounds. The SWA released that the amount of scotch whiskey sold overseas has increased for the first time since 2013, which is largely in thanks to India for registering a massive jump in shipment value.

Furthermore, India is the third-biggest export market for scotch with 41 million bottles, which marks a 41% increase in sales volumes. India follows France (as the largest exporter with 90.9 million bottles) and the United States (53.1 million bottles).

The SWA also called on urgent action from the UK government to help realise the full potential of the Indian market. The SWA said, “The full potential of the Indian market would only be delivered through liberalisation of the exorbitant 150 per cent basic customs duty. We urge the UK government to prioritise discussions with India as it develops its post-Brexit pirorities.”

With Diageo taking over United Spirits distribution network in India, there was a sale of up to 12 million or more bottles compared to 2015. And most of that was in bulk, for bottling in India, or blending with Indian whiskies. Besides that, India registered a marked rise in the amount of single malt whisky that was shipped to the country, adding up to more than 700,000 bottles.

The SWA attributes this to an “industry-wide emphasis on craftsmanship and provenance, backed by investment”.