Decrease in Scotch Whisky Exportation to Germany - Decrease in Scotch Whisky Exported to Germany
Sipping on a wee dram of Scotland's finest whisky and proclaiming its homeland, it seems that the spirit's popularity extends to Germany as well. However, the import figures have taken a dip. Despite Germany retaining its status as one of the world's largest consumers of Scottish whisky, the imports have seen a decrease. The Scotch Whisky Association reported that in 2024, approximately 56 million bottles (70cl) worth £169 million were exported to Germany. This figure represents a 14.2% decrease compared to 2023, and a slightly smaller drop than the 8.3% decrease compared to 2019.
The head of the Scotch Whisky Association, Mark Kent, described the previous year as a challenging one. Exports to traditional strong markets in North America and the EU faced obstacles, contributing to a 3.7% decrease in the overall value of whisky exports in 2024, totalling £5.4 billion. Despite this decrease, an impressive 1.4 billion 70cl bottles were exported, equating to around 44 bottles per second.
Looking at the broader picture, India leads the charge in volume, with 192 million bottles exported in 2024, making it the world's largest consumer. The USA remains the leading market by value, with £971 million worth of exports in 2024. France follows closely, ranked second globally by both value and volume with 177 million bottles exported in 2024, although its value saw a slight decrease compared to 2023.
In light of these figures, the diminished import figures for German whisky lovers may come as a disappointment, but the global market remains robust, with Scotch whisky’s popularity continuing to grow.
Other exports of Scotch whisky, including mixtures and blends, also saw a decrease in 2024, contributing to the overall decrease in value. Despite the decreasing imports, Singapore continues to be a significant market for Scottish whisky exports, with more than 1 billion bottles worth over a billion dollars exported annually. Whisky exports to Germany and other traditional strong markets may be facing challenges, but the Scotch Whisky Association is exploring other possibilities for increasing exports, including exploring markets in Asia and other continents.
