USA: US spirits exports reach a record in 2023 driven by whiskey sales

According to figures from the US Distilled Spirits Council, US spirits exports reached a record in 2023, driven by whiskey sales, which benefited from the EU tariff suspension. Whiskey exports reached €1.3 trillion and accounted for a 63 percent share of total spirits exports, FreshlyBottled.com reported.

Whiskey exports to the EU have grown by more than 60 percent in the past two years, from €400 million to €640 million. The top markets for US whiskey after the EU were Australia (€110 million), Japan (€ 96 million), the UK (€ 80 million) and Canada (€ 70 million). While US whiskey accounted for 63 percent of all spirits exports in terms of value, it accounted for only 34 percent in volume.

Whiskey also received a 15-month tariff suspension in the EU at the end of 2023, delaying any potential duties until March 31, 2025. For now, the country’s whiskey producers are in a good position, bolstered by the continued growth of the sector.