Without the Scotch whisky industry’s exporting success, Britain’s trade deficit would be 11% higher. Members of Parliament, industry representatives and the media were told as a recent Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reception in London.
The Scotch whisky industry is now the single biggest net contributor to the UK’s balance of trade in goods.
Hosting the event, Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell said: “The Scotch whisky industry is a truly global exporter which generates billions of pounds for our economy and supports thousands of jobs in Scotland and across the UK.”
Every second of the day, he continued, 34 bottles of Scotch are shipped overseas and sold to 175 countries around the world.
There is a bright future ahead for Scotland’s whisky producers, Mr Mundell concluded, stressing that the UK Government would be backing them all the way.
In response, SWA acting Chief Executive Julie Hesketh-Laird thanked the Scottish Secretary for hosting the Association’s annual celebration of Scotch whisky and recognising the industry’s importance to the entire UK economy.
She noted that the Association had met Scotland Office representatives regularly throughout the year to discuss issues of mutual interest, such as overseas trade.
“Brexit is clearly top of the agenda,” Ms Hesketh-Laird continued, “and we will be having further discussions with the UK Government on what we see as industry priorities as the UK leaves the EU.”
