Royal Lochnagar is one of 142 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland and was the centre piece of a visit from former Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday.
Andrew invited the former PM to West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in advance of ‘The Best of Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire’ event being held in Westminster next month. Organised by Visit Aberdeenshire the event will showcase the best the North East food and drink sector has to offer, in the heart of London.
The visit provided an opportunity for Andrew to highlight the whisky industries recent successes following new UK Government trade deals across the globe.
“Last year alone 1.6bn bottles of Scotch Whisky 180 markets around the world totally £6.2bn worth of exports, this accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, 24% of all UK food and drink exports, and 1.5% of all UK goods exports.”
“In addition to this nearly 80% of people directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry are employed in rural areas of Scotland, areas like here along Deeside. Vital rural jobs being secured by the success of our new, post Brexit trade relationships around the world.”
Earlier this month, an article from Scottish Business Insider revealed that The Asia-Pacific region overtook the EU as the industry’s largest regional market, with double-digit growth in Taiwan, Singapore, India and China, and that India has now replaced France as the largest Scotch whisky market by volume.
Scottish Whisky Association analysis also suggests that a UK-India free trade deal which eases the 150% tariff on Scotch whisky could boost market access for producers, leading to an additional £1 billion of growth by 2028. Currently the US is the only market with exports valued over £1 billion, Andrew believes this latest news is a real shot in the arm for the industry:
“It’s brilliant news, I have always championed the UK becoming the world leader in global free trade, the free trade agreements we are now reaching with countries around the globe are proving that this was never just a pipe dream.”
“What the SNP and Liberal Democrats will never admit is that these free trade agreements, that are bringing so much growth to key Scottish industries would not have been possible pre-Brexit. Whilst a difficult dram for them to swallow, they should also be delighted that post-Brexit, established whisky markets within the EU such as France, Germany and Spain also saw strong growth in 2022.”
Both Mexico and Canada saw growth in 2022 highlighting the importance of free trade agreements with both countries securing further market access.
“Again, this shows the power of our new ability to forge our own free trade agreements around the world. Whilst the EU will always be a close and trusted trade partner, the growing markets are in the Asia-Pacific and parts of the Americas. We have untapped markets crying out for Scotch Whisky to start flowing in”
