Top 10 export markets for Scotch by volume

There was movement at the top when it came to the biggest export markets by volume for Scotch whisky in 2024. We count down the top 10.

The majority of markets increased their imports of Scotch whisky bottles last year, with a couple of exceptions.

However, compare the countries to pre-pandemic levels (2019 data) and every region is up – one with triple-digit percentage growth.

The data was shared this week by trade body the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Scotch whisky exports by volume grew by 3.9% in 2024, while the value of shipments fell by 3.7% to £5.4 billion (US$6.7bn) compared with the previous year.

Looking at exports compared with pre-pandemic levels, exports by value were 10% higher in 2024 compared with 2019, and exports by volume have increased by 7%.

Mark Kent, chief executive of the SWA, said: “Despite the resilience of the Scotch whisky industry, 2024 has been a challenging year.

“Overseas, the tectonic plates of trade are shifting, and exports to traditionally strong markets in the EU and North America have become much more challenging.”

Below, we count down the top 10 export markets for Scotch by volume, as noted by the SWA. The volumes equate to 700ml bottles.

10. China

In 10th position is China, which imported 30 million bottles in 2024 – down by 1.7% compared with the 31m bottles shipped in 2023.

However, compared with 2019 and last year’s Scotch exports to China were 77.3% higher. China imported just 17m bottles of Scotch in 2019.

9. Turkey

Scotch whisky exports to Turkey grew by 14% in 2024 to reach 47m bottles, up from 41m in 2023.

Turkey has experienced a huge surge in Scotch imports since before the pandemic. In 2019, the country imported 15m bottles. The difference between then and 2024 is a whopping 216.2% increase.

8. Poland

Solid single-digit growth in 2024 puts Poland in eighth position. The country imported 48m bottles of Scotch last year, an increase of 5.6% compared with 2023 (45m bottles).

Looking at 2019 data, and the growth seen in 2024 marks a 46.9% increase compared with the pre-pandemic year when Scotland exported 33m bottles to Poland.

7. Brazil

Exports of Scotch to Brazil grew by more than a fifth between 2023 and 2024. The 22.8% increase last year saw a total of 52m bottles shipped to Brazil, up from 43m in 2023.

In 2019, Brazil also imported 43m bottles – making last year’s increase more substantial. The percentage change from 2019 to 2024 stands at 22.1%.

6. Germany

The European market was one of the only top 10 countries to report a volume decline in exports last year. Scotch exports to Germany fell by 6.1% in 2024 to 56m bottles, a decline from the 59m bottles in 2023.

Exports to Germany have risen by double digits (12.6%) since 2019, when the country imported 50m bottles.

5. Spain

Though Scotch whisky’s volume growth in Spain has been in the low-single-digit realm, the category is moving in a positive direction: up. In 2023, exports to Spain were 58m bottles, and grew to 59m bottles in 2024 following a 1.9% increase.

In 2019, Scotch exports to Spain equated 57m bottles. Between 2019 and 2024, exports have increased by 3.7%.

4. Japan

Japanese drinkers showed a penchant for Scotch in 2024 with a notable 22.9% increase in imports, equal to 74m bottles, a rise on the 60m in 2023.

It means export growth last year is 22.2% higher than it was in 2019, when 60m bottles were exported to Japan.

3. US

Exports to the US grew steadily last year, up by 3.7% in 2024 to reach 132m bottles (an increase from 127m bottles in 2023).

The 2023 export level was the same as 2019, meaning growth since 2019 to 2024 is also 3.7%.

2. France

Once the biggest export market for Scotch by volume, France slipped to second place following modest growth in 2024. Last year, the country imported 177m bottles of Scotch, a 1.9% increase on the 174m bottles in 2023.

Last year’s figures represent a 2.3% increase on the 173m bottles imported in 2019.

1. India

Reclaiming the top spot as Scotch whisky’s biggest export market by volume is India. The nation lapped up 192m bottles in 2024 – a rise of 14.6% compared with 167m bottles in 2023.

The difference between pre-Covid and last year is substantial. In 2019, India imported 131m bottles of Scotch. The growth from then to 2024 shows a 46.6% increase, putting the market way out in front in the exports by volume ranking.