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SCOTCH EXPORTS GROW

Published:  23 July, 2008

Exports of Scotch whisky reached 2.37 billion in 2003, the second highest amount ever and equivalent to 75 a second. Both the volume and value of the Scotch shipped increased by 4% in 2003 and was just 20 million less than the record, set in 1997. Bottled malts showed the biggest increase, breaking through 300 million for the first time and up 13.5% in the space of a year. Bottled blends increased as well by 3.5% to 1.87 billion. Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) chairman Ian Good said: New markets are emerging around the world where consumers are discovering Scotch for the first time. Distillers have been trailblazers in exporting to eastern Europe ahead of the imminent enlargement of the EU.' The US and Spain remained the biggest markets for exporters by value, showing encouraging growth of 9% and 26% respectively. By volume, France remains the biggest market, although volumes dropped by 10%. As for the Far East, exports to Japan and South Korea both dropped (8% by value and 35% by value respectively), although exports to Taiwan increased by 41%. Good added: These figures highlight Scotch's important contribution to the balance of payments. Any damage to the industry will have a knock-on effect across the wider economy. That is one of the reasons we continue to oppose tax stamps in the UK, a measure that will tie up companies' capital at an important time.' In the UK, overall volume sales dropped by 1% last year, with malts up 3%. The Macallan has been awarded The Queens Award for Enterprise for the sixth time. The Macallan sells 300,000 cases a year to 60 different markets.

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