UK: Whisky exports post modest growth in the first half of 2025

Whisky shipments from the UK – which includes scotch – posted modest growth in the first half of 2025, according to a recent report from the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), while gin exports rose sharply, Global Drinks Intel reported on October 6.

Whisky remained the UK’s top food and/or drink export by value in the six months to the end of June, inching up 1% year on year to GBP2.5bn (US$3.4bn), despite a 3.1% drop in volumes. The performance pointed to continued price-led gains in the FDF’s ‘Trade Snapshot’.

Gin, meanwhile, leapt by 17.6% in value to GBP298.4m, with volumes up 6.3%, building on what the FDF described as strong demand in non-EU markets.

The US remained a key destination for both spirits categories, despite the 10% universal tariff that applies to UK food and drink products. Exports of gin to the market were up 23.8% in value, while whisky dipped by 3.9%. Growth was strongest in Turkey, where whisky exports more than doubled to GBP131.8m, and gin rose 135% to GBP9.4m, supported by ongoing trade discussions between the two countries.

Overall UK food and drink exports totalled GBP12.4bn in H1 2025, up 6.8% on the same period last year, with non-EU markets continuing to gain share, the FDF said.

In February, trade organisation The Scotch Whisky Association reported that China plummeted from being the fifth-most valuable export market for scotch whisky in 2023 to tenth last year as the value of scotch shipments to the country fell by 31.5%.