Scotch whisky exports reached £3.86 billion in customs value last year, showing signs of recovery after a slight decline in recent years.
Export value was down 2.4% in 2015 from £3.95bn in 2014, a slowing last year’s fall of 7%, and putting total export value 56% higher than a decade ago.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said the product’s prospects for growth remained strong, but exporters continue to face challenging global economic conditions.
The volume of Scotch exports was down by 2.8% last year to 1.16 billion bottles, representing 34 bottles of whisky every second being shipped from Scotland.
Consumer demand for Single Malt Scotch Whisky remained strong, with shipments up to £916.4 million from £914m and accounting for nearly 25% of the value Scotch Whisky exports.
Blended Scotch Whisky was the biggest category (£2.77bn), accounting for 72% of the global value of exports.
The USA market remained steady at £749m, nearly a fifth of all exports.
Around 40% of the volume of Scotch shipped globally was exported to the European Union last year.
David Frost, SWA chief executive, said: “Continued EU membership will help to support Scotch Whisky exports to the single market.
“It would leave Scotch well placed to benefit from the lower tariffs and fairer market access that the EU has been able to secure through its negotiation of Free Trade Agreements with countries around the world.”
