Exporting Whisky from UK: Top Scotch Whisky Exports & HS Code

Key Points:

• According to whisky export data, around 11,345 shipments of Scotch whisky were exported by the UK between October 2023 and September 2024 (TTM).
• The major whisky exports by country include the United States (US), France, Singapore, Taiwan and India. 
• The top exporting whisky from the UK include Aberfeldy, Aberlour, Ballantine's, Balvenie, Bowmore, Bruichladdich and Buchanan's. 
• The major HS codes for whisky are 2208, 22083011, 22083013, 22083019 and 22083099.
• The top scotch producers are large conglomerates that own numerous brands, including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, and Chivas Brothers.

Legally, Scotch whisky, or just "Scotch," is a distilled spirit that is produced in Scotland. From its beginnings as the "water of life" (uisge beatha in Gaelic) to its current status as a world-famous beverage, its history spans more than 500 years.

Approximately $35.11 billion in 2025, the global market for Scotch whisky is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 6.5% to reach $58.04 billion by 2033, making it a significant segment of the alcoholic beverage industry.

The outlook for whisky exports from the UK is not particularly promising. In terms of exports, compared to 2023, export value decreased 3.7% to £5.4 billion. In 2019, this was still 10% more than what it was before the pandemic. In this blog post, we will explore the statistics on scotch whisky exports, how exporting whisky from the UK is profitable, the HS Code for whisky and Whisky exports by country. 

Did you Know about the UK Whisky Market?

Indeed, the UK is a significant whisky market, leading the world in whisky exports and seeing a sharp increase in production due to the post-pandemic surge in demand and the premiumization trend. However, the first nine months of 2024 saw a double-digit drop in both volume and value of exports, especially to the US market.

Declining UK Whisky Exports in 2024: A Challenging Concern

According to data from the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), a trade association, exporting whisky from the UK fell by double digits in both volume and value during the first nine months of 2024. 

One contributing factor was a drop in sales in the US, which is the third-largest export market for the UK and where over 10% of all British food and drink exports are sold. During the first nine months of 2024, exports decreased by 19.8% in volume and 23.2% in value, to £558 million. 

Although salmon, cheese, and chocolate all increased, whisky continues to be the UK's top food and drink export.

How much of the UK's Whisky is Exported?

With 48.2% of all exports worldwide, the UK maintained its position as the world's largest whisky exporter for the 2024–2025 period. According to recent reports, the value of UK exports of Scotch whisky dropped by 18% to £2.1 billion in the first half of 2024, while export volumes fell by 10.2%. 

Whisky Export Data from the UK: 2025 Analysis

Here is the table for whisky export data from the UK:

Based on Whisky export data, 11,345 shipments of Scotch whisky were exported by the UK between October 2023 and September 2024 (TTM). 

These exports were sent to 499 buyers by 429 exporters from the United Kingdom. During this time, 1,038 shipments of Scotch whisky were exported from the UK in September 2024 alone. This represents a 0% sequential growth from August 2024 and a 0% year-over-year growth from September 2023.

The United States, Turkey, and India receive the majority of the UK's exports of Scotch whisky.

In the world, the Netherlands, Latvia, and the United Kingdom are the top three exporters of Scotch whisky. In terms of Scotch Whisky exports, the United Kingdom is the world leader with 43,541 shipments, followed by Latvia with 2,968 shipments and the Netherlands in third place with 1,771 shipments.

Where does the UK Export Whisky to?

The UK exports Scotch whisky to a range of international markets, with key destinations including the United States, France, India, China, and Australia.

The top whisky export destinations are listed in the table below:

Exporting Whisky from the UK

Scotch whisky, a well-known product with many different brands, is the main export from the United Kingdom. However, the country also exports English whisky from distilleries in England, including Oxford Rye and The Lakes.

Below are the prominent and most popular whiskies exported from the UK.

1. Aberfeldy
2. Aberlour
3. Ardbeg
4. Ballantine's
5. Balvenie
6. Bowmore
7. Bruichladdich
8. Buchanan's
9. Caol Ila
10. Chivas Regal
11. Compass Box
12. Cutty Sark
13. Dalmore
14. Dalwhinnie
15. Johnnie Walker

HS code for Whisky: A Top List

Below is the table for the top whisky HS Codes:

These are the major HS Codes for whisky. To explore the insights on UK whisky export data, top scotch whisky export-import statistics, exporting whisky from the UK, whisky HS Codes and scotch whisky exports by country, visit Seair Exim Solutions and obtain the shipment-wise data hassle-free. 

Case Study: How to Find Whisky Importers in the UK

Arjun Mehta, a 38-year-old export manager at Golden Oak Distilleries, a premium whisky manufacturing company based in India, was tasked with expanding the company’s global footprint. With the rising global demand for Indian-origin spirits and craft whiskies, the United Kingdom stood out as one of the most promising markets.

However, Arjun faced a critical challenge in finding verified and reliable whisky importers in the UK. The local UK market had numerous distributors and resellers, but no single verified source provided importer names, information on the list of exporting whisky from the UK, scotch whisky exports statistics, trade history, or shipment data. Without these insights, he risked wasting time and money contacting unverified agents or importers with limited capacity or compliance issues.

Arjun’s Profile

• Profession: Export Manager – Golden Oak Distilleries Pvt Ltd
• Age: 38
• Key Attributes: Market-driven, result-oriented, and experienced in international trade compliance. Skilled in identifying export opportunities but dependent on accurate importer data for efficient outreach.
• Biggest Challenge in Import-Export: Identifying active whisky importers in the UK with a proven import record, a list of HS codes for whisky and verified business credentials.

Specific Goals

• Identify verified and active whisky importers and distributors in the UK (2025).
• Access shipment data to analyse scotch whisky exports, import/export frequency, product categories, and importer/exporter volume.
• Obtain contact details of whisky importers, including their buyer references and trade history.
• Evaluate the top UK importers’ sourcing behaviour, market regions, and key Indian suppliers.

Pain Points

• No consolidated data: There was no central database listing whisky importers in the UK with shipment and volume details.
• Risk of unreliable contacts: Online directories listed many traders, but few were verified or had a recent import history.

Lack of market intelligence: Arjun couldn’t compare which importers were focused on Scotch, blended, or craft whisky segments.

What Would Make Him Say?

"Yes, I need verified UK whisky importer data right now!"
An online trade portal with real-time whisky import data, verified importer contacts, shipment trends, and HS code-based analysis—enabling him to confidently pitch to verified UK whisky importers, scotch whisky exports data and the list of exporting whisky from the UK.

Major Challenges

• Data reliability: Most of the available importer lists were outdated or lacked verified shipment details.
• Regulatory limitations: The UK alcohol import market is highly regulated; without verified whisky export/import data, targeting the right buyers was difficult.
• Time-consuming research: Manual searches through directories and fairs were slow and inefficient. 

How Did the Seair Exim Portal Help?

Seair Exim Solutions provided Arjun with:

• A verified list of active whisky importers in the UK, ranked by shipment value and frequency.
• Importer-wise shipment data, including HS code for whisky details and other spirits (HS Code: 220830).
• Detailed trade statistics showing major import hubs like Glasgow, Manchester, and London.

Findings

The data revealed:

• Over 250+ active whisky importers in the UK, with verified import records from India, Japan, Scotland, and Ireland.
• Leading importers such as The Whisky Exchange, Speciality Drinks Ltd, and Master of Malt accounted for major volumes.
• A significant rise in demand (approx. 18%) for Indian-origin craft and single malt whiskies since 2023.
• The UK’s major whisky import regions included London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Arjun used these insights to create a shortlist of the top 10 high-value importers who were consistently obtaining whisky from Asian distilleries, which was a perfect fit for the product profile of his business.

Final Words!

Finding verified whisky importers in the UK or exporting whisky from the UK doesn’t have to be a challenge. With Seair Exim Solutions’ UK importers database, exporters like Arjun can gain access to real-time shipment data, Whisky exports by country, verified importer contacts, trade trends, and HS code for whisky insights, all in one place.

Whether you’re an Indian distillery, beverage manufacturer, or global exporter, Seair Exim Solutions helps you identify genuine whisky importers, gain shipment insights on scotch whisky exports, analyse Whisky exports by country, analyse trade volumes, and connect directly with potential buyers in the UK market.

Access Verified UK Whisky Importer Data – Schedule Your Free Demo Today!

FAQ's on Exporting Whisky from the UK

1. Do I need a license to export whisky from the UK?

Indeed, to export whisky from the UK, you must have either an Open General Export Licence (OGEL) or a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL). You also need to have an EORI number, a UK export declaration, and the necessary commercial documents, such as a packing list and a commercial invoice. 

2. Does the UK Export Whisky?

Indeed, the UK is a significant exporter of whisky worldwide, with Scotch whisky being its most valuable and well-known export to the food and beverage industry. Scotch whisky exports were worth more than £6 billion in 2022.

3. What is the Largest Export market for Scotch Whisky?

As per Scotch whisky export data, India is the largest export market for Scotch whisky by volume, importing 192 million bottles in 2024.

4. Which Country Exports the most Whiskey?

According to whisky export data, the largest exporting countries of whisky include the USA, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Ireland. 

5. Which Country Imports the most Scotch Whisky?

Based on scotch whisky import data, the largest importers are India, France, and the United States, France, Japan and Spain. 

6. How much Scotch Whisky is Exported to India?

Based on Whisky exporter data, 11,345 shipments of Scotch whisky were exported by the UK between October 2023 and September 2024 (TTM). 

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