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1

 The information and analysis provided in this report are for the purposes of this report only. 

Nothing in this report should be construed to indicate how the Commission would find in an

investigation conducted under statutory authority covering the same or similar subject matter.

i

PREFACE

In 1991 the United States International Trade Commission initiated its current Industry and

Trade Summary series of informational reports on the thousands of products imported into

and exported from the United States. Each summary addresses a different commodity/industry

area and contains information on product uses, U.S. and foreign producers, and customs

treatment. Also included is an analysis of the basic factors affecting trends in consumption,

production, and trade of the commodity, as well as those bearing on the competitiveness of

U.S. industries in domestic and foreign markets.1

This report on distilled spirits covers the period 1995-99. Listed below are the individual

summary reports published to date on the agriculture and forest product sectors.

USITC

publication Publication

number date Title

2459 November 1991 .......... Live Sheep and Meat of Sheep

2462 November 1991 ........ Cigarettes

2477 January 1992 .......... Dairy Produce

2478 January 1992 .......... Oilseeds

2511 March 1992 ........... Live Swine and Fresh, Chilled, or

Frozen Pork

2520 June 1992 ............ Poultry

2544 August 1992 .......... Fresh or Frozen Fish

2545 November 1992 ........ Natural Sweeteners

2551 November 1992 ........ Newsprint

2612 March 1993 ........... Wood Pulp and Waste Paper

2615 March 1993 ........... Citrus Fruit

2625 April 1993 ............ Live Cattle and Fresh, Chilled, or Frozen

Beef and Veal

2631 May 1993 ............ Animal and Vegetable Fats and Oils

2635 June 1993 ............ Cocoa, Chocolate, and Confectionery

2636 May 1993 ............ Olives

2639 June 1993 ............ Wine and Certain Fermented Beverages

2693 October 1993 ......... Printing and Writing Paper

2702 November 1993 ........ Fur Goods

2726 January 1994 .......... Furskins

2737 March 1994 ........... Cut Flowers

2749 March 1994 ........... Paper Boxes and Bags
ii

PREFACE—Continued

USITC

publication Publication

number date Title

2762 April 1994 ............ Coffee and Tea

2859 May 1995 ............ Seeds

2865 April 1995 ............ Malt Beverages

2875 May 1995 ............ Certain Fresh Deciduous Fruits

2898 June 1995 ............ Certain Miscellaneous Vegetable

Substances and Products

2917 October 1995 ............ Lumber, Flooring, and Siding

2918 August 1995 .......... Printed Matter

2928 November 1995 ........ Processed Vegetables

3015 February 1997 ......... Hides, Skins, and Leather

3020 March 1997 ........... Nonalcoholic Beverages

3022 April 1997 ............ Industrial Papers and Paperboards

3080 January 1998 .......... Dairy Products

3083 February 1998 ......... Canned Fish, Except Shellfish

3095 March 1998 ........... Milled Grains, Malts, and Starches

3096 April 1998 ............ Millwork

3145 December 1998 ........ Wool and Related Animal Hair

3148 December 1998 ........ Poultry

3171 March 1999 ........... Dried Fruits Other Than Tropical

3268 December 1999 ........ Eggs

3275 January 2000 .......... Animal Feeds

3350 September 2000 .......... Grains (Cereals)

3352 September 2000 ......... Edible Nuts

3355 September 2000 .......... Newsprint
iii

CONTENTS

Page

Preface ................................................................ i

Abstract .............................................................. 1

Introduction ......................................................... 3

General ................................................................. 3

Description .............................................................. 4

Production methods ........................................................ 5

Stills ................................................................ 6

Bourbon production ..................................................... 6

U.S. industry profile ............................................... 10

Industry structure ......................................................... 10

Number, concentration, geographic distribution of firms ............................. 10

Number and level of concentration of firms ................................... 10

Geographical distribution of firms .......................................... 13

Employment, earnings, and productivity ......................................... 14

Vertical and horizontal integration ............................................. 14

Marketing ............................................................... 16

Methods of distribution ..................................................... 17

Pricing practices .......................................................... 18

Taxes ................................................................. 19

Government regulation ...................................................... 20

Federal regulation ...................................................... 20

State regulation ........................................................ 21

U.S. market .......................................................... 22

Factors affecting demand .............................................. 22

Consumption ....................................................... 23

Consumption trends ............................................... 23

Consumer characteristics ........................................... 26

Import penetration levels .............................................. 26

Conditions of competition between foreign and U.S. spirits products ............. 28

Production ...................................................... 28

Inputs ......................................................... 29

Distilled spirits plants/locations of production ............................ 29
iv

CONTENTS–Continued

Page

U.S. trade ............................................................. 30

Overview .............................................................. 30

U.S. imports ............................................................. 31

Principal import suppliers and import levels ................................... 31

Products imported ................................................... 31

Import levels and trends .............................................. 31

Principal import suppliers ............................................. 32

U.S. trade measures ................................................. 32

U.S. exports ............................................................. 33

Principal markets and export levels ......................................... 33

Products exported ................................................... 33

Exports levels and trends .............................................. 34

Principal export markets .............................................. 34

Foreign trade measures .................................................. 35

Tariff measures ..................................................... 35

Nontariff measures .................................................. 35

State trading entities ............................................... 36

Licensing requirements ............................................. 36

Quantitative restrictions ............................................ 36

Foreign industry profile .......................................... 37

Overview of world market ................................................... 37

Country profiles .......................................................... 37

European Union ....................................................... 37

China ............................................................... 38

Russia ............................................................... 39

Brazil ............................................................... 39

Japan ............................................................... 39

Canada .............................................................. 40

Mexico .............................................................. 41

Appendixes ..........................................................

A. Statistical tables .......................................................... A-1

B. Explanation of tariff and trade agreement terms ................................... B-1

Figures

1. Bourbon production flow chart ............................................... 8

2. Distilled spirits: Structure of the U.S. three-tier industry ............................. 11

3. Share of advertising expenditures, 1997 ......................................... 17

4. Distilled spirits: U.S. consumption of distilled spirits by category, 1998 ................. 24

5. Distilled spirits: U.S. shares of distilled spirits consumption by category, 1998 ........... 25

6. Distilled spirits: Percentage U.S. consumption of domestic and imported spirits for

all spirits and by category, 1998 ........................................... 27
v

CONTENTS–Continued

Page

Tables

1. Major U.S. distilled spirits producers/suppliers, parent companies, location of

production facilities, products, and core brands ............................. 12

A-1. Distilled spirits plants: Number of companies, employees, and establishments ......... A-2

A-2. Distilled spirits: Number of U.S. companies producing selected bottled spirits ......... A-2

A-3. Distilled spirits: Geographic distribution of licensed distilled spirits plants

by State, 1999 ...................................................... A-3

A-4. U.S. distilled spirits: Number of employees, payroll, manhours, wages,

and value of shipments, 1993-97 ........................................ A-3

A-5. Distilled spirits: Price indexes, 1995-99 ..................................... A-4

A-6. Distilled spirits: U.S. Federal tax collections on distilled spirits, beer and

wine, 1996-99 ...................................................... A-4

A-7. Distilled spirits: Major world producers relative magnitude of spirits production ....... A-5

A-8. Alcoholic beverages: U.S. domestic per capita consumption and total

consumption, 1993-97 ................................................ A-5

A-9. Distilled spirits: Conversion factors ........................................ A-6

A-10. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption by category and type, 1995-98 .......... A-7

A-11. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic

beverages by gender, 1998 ............................................ A-7

A-12. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic

beverages by age, 1998 ............................................... A-7

A-13. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic

beverages by category and age, 1998 ..................................... A-8

A-14. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic

beverages by region, 1998 ............................................. A-8

A-15. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic

beverages by household income, 1998 .................................... A-8

A-16. Distilled spirits: U.S. consumption of U.S.-produced and imported spirits

by category, 1996-98 ................................................ A-9

A-17. Distilled spirits: Value of product shipments and selected inputs ................... A-10

A-18. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic production of selected bottled spirits ................ A-11

A-19. Distilled spirits: Production by volume, 1993-96 ............................... A-12

A-20. Distilled spirits: Grains used in production, 1993-96 ............................ A-12

A-21. Distilled spirits: Percent production capacity utilization rates for

selected beverage industries, 1993-98 .................................... A-12

A-22. Distilled spirits: Distillery establishment size by number of employees, 1997 .......... A-13

A-23. Distilled spirits: Geographic distribution of spirits production by State, 1996 ......... A-13

A-24. Distilled spirits: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, imports for

consumption, and merchandise trade balance, by selected countries and

country groups, 1995-99 .............................................. A-14

A-25. Distilled spirits: World imports by selected countries and country groups ............ A-15

A-26. Distilled spirits: World exports by selected countries and country groups,

1995-98 .......................................................... A-16

A-27. Distilled spirits: Composition of U.S. imports for consumption, 1995-99 ............. A-17
vi

CONTENTS–Continued

Page

Tables–Continued

A-28. Distilled spirits: U.S. imports for consumption of selected spirits by

major supplier countries, 1995-99 .......................................... A-18

A-29. Distilled spirits: U.S. imports for consumption by major source

countries, 1995-99 .................................................... A-19

A-30. Distilled spirits: Harmonized tariff schedule subheadings; description;

U.S. col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 2000; U.S. exports, 1999; and

U.S. imports, 1999 .................................................... A-20

A-31. Distilled spirits: Composition of U.S. domestic exports, 1995-99 ................... A-23

A-32. Distilled spirits: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise by principal

markets, 1995-99 ..................................................... A-24

A-33. Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic exports of whiskey to major market

countries and country groups, 1995-99 ..................................... A-25

A-34. Distilled spirits: Applied tariff levels for selected countries, 2000 .................. A-26

A-35. Distilled spirits: Per capita consumption of selected countries by region, 1995-98 ...... A-27
1

ABSTRACT

This report addresses trade and industry conditions for the distilled spirits industry

for the period 1995-99. 

• Regulations and taxes significantly affect distilled spirits in the United

States. Federal and State laws strictly regulate most activities of the industry,

including production, advertising, and distribution; Federal, State and local

taxes account for a significant percentage of the retail cost to consumers.

• Per capita consumption declined by more than 6 percent during 1993-97,

consistent with a decades long trend of falling rates of consumption brought

about by lifestyle changes, increased regulation, and stricter enforcement of

driving under the influence laws. Apparent consumption remained stable

during the period.

• The United States is the world’s third-1argest producer of spirits with

production amounting to $3.4 billion in 1997. During the most recent

measured 10-year period, nominal rates of production marginally increased;

however, the real value of production, adjusted for inflation, fell by 26

percent, with the production value of bottled spirits falling by over 31

percent. With the exception of unprocessed whiskey, volumes of production

for most spirits similarly declined.

• The U.S. and world spirits industry underwent major consolidation and

restructuring during the 1990's. The three-leading U.S. producers/ suppliers

are subsidiaries of multinational corporations. The top 10 world producers

account for 70 of the leading 100 premium brands marketed. The U.S.

wholesale distribution tier has also undergone rapid consolidation during the

period.

• The United States ranked as the world’s leading importer of distilled spirits

with the value of imports totaling $2.4 billion in 1999, nearly three times the

value of the world’s second leading importer, Japan. U.S. exports totaling

$440 million of mainly bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, ranked U.S.

shipments among the five leading exporting nations. The U.S. trade deficit

for distilled spirits amounting to almost $2.0 billion, expanded by nearly

60 percent during 1995-99, with the United States registering trade deficits

with 8 out of the top 10 trading partners for spiritous beverages in 1999.

• Tariff levels for the world’s leading trading nations, particularly the

developed nations of the OECD, are relatively low compared to developing

nations. The United States and the EU maintain duty-free rates on most

categories of spirits as part of a distilled spirits “zero for zero” tariff accord.

 

1

 For products of U.S. and Irish origin, the spelling is “whiskey,” and for products originating

elsewhere the spelling is “whisky.” In this report, the spelling “whiskey” will be used generally. 

 

2

 The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for alcoholic beverage is 2085, except for

brandies categorized under SIC 2084. Distilled spirits are classified under the NAICS product

code 312140, while brandy is classified under NAICS product code 312130. 

 

3

 Where the most recent data are unavailable, the latest 5-year data available will be used to

examine trends.

3

INTRODUCTION

General

This summary covers the following distilled spirits:

! Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine or grape marc, including grape brandies;

pisco and singani.

! Whiskies,1 including Irish whiskey, Scotch whisky and bourbons.

! Rums and tafia.

! Gin and geneve.

! Vodka.

! Liqueurs and cordials.

! Aquavits.

! Bitters.

! Brandy that is not produced from grapes, including slivovitz, kirschwasser, and

ratafia.

! Tequila.

! Brandy imitations.

! Mescal. 

! Compound alcoholic preparations used in the manufacture of beverages.

This summary does not cover beer, wine, or spirits distilled for uses other than human

consumption. All the covered products are classified in chapter 22 of the Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States (HTS),2 except for compound alcoholic preparations, which are

provided for in HTS chapter 21. This report provides information on the structure of the U.S.

and foreign distilled spirits industries, domestic and foreign tariff and trade measures, and the

competitiveness of U.S. industries in domestic and foreign markets. The study principally

examines the period 1995-99;3 however, historical data will show longer-term trends.

The spirits industry is a highly regulated industry in the United States, subject to Federal,

State and local laws that govern many functions of the sector. At the Federal level, the

Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) enforces Federal

laws relating to distilled spirits while State Governments (and some local jurisdictions) have

regulatory control on distribution and sales within their borders.
 

4

 G. Brown, Classic Spirits of the World: A Comprehensive Guide (New York, NY: 

Abbeville Press, 1995), pp. 59-70 and 153-188.

 

5

 Ibid., pp. 191-193.

 

6

 Some premium rums, tequilas and other spirits are also aged.

4

The U.S. distilled spirits industry is characterized by a three-tier structure of (1)

producers/suppliers, (2) wholesale distributors, and (3) retailers. Each tier must operate

independently from the other two tiers as mandated by Federal and State laws. During the last

two decades, the number of companies producing distilled spirits, totaling 44 firms in 1997,

declined by 31 percent, while the number of distilled spirits plants (60 facilities) fell by

42 percent. Decreased demand, regulation, and legal pressures have forced major

consolidation in the domestic and international spirits sector during the 1990's. The industry

is highly concentrated, with many of the largest U.S. producers integrated into the global

industry that is dominated by a few large worldwide producers/suppliers.

Consumption in the United States and many major world markets has been characterized by

static to slow overall growth, while demand in potential growth markets, such as countries in

Asia and Latin America has been modest owing to economic weakness. Although overall

volume has been static, U.S. consumers have shifted demand to premium higher valued

domestic and imported products for most major spirits types. U.S. employment and per capita

consumption have also been declining in the sector. Most production of distilled spirits by the

world’s leading producers is consumed domestically, while those products that are traded

internationally are produced by a concentrated number of large multinational corporations that

produce and market a wide portfolio of brands.

Description

Distilled spirits are distinguished in the industry by three major groupings, “white,” “brown,”

and “specialties.” Within these major categories, spirits can be further classified by

fermentation base, distillation method, alcoholic strength, and country or region of origin.

White spirits include vodka, gin, rum, and tequila; brown spirits consist of whiskies;

specialties include brandies, liqueurs and cordials, and other spiritous beverages.

White, brown, and specialty spirits including whiskies, most vodkas, gin, and others result

most often from fermentation and distillation of grain (corn, wheat, rye, barley, etc.).4

However, spirits are also obtained from bases of fruit, plants, roots, and tubers.5 Examples

include brandies (grapes); rums (sugarcane and sugarcane-based materials, such as molasses);

gin and geneve (barley, rye, or corn redistilled with juniper berries and other flavors); vodka

(potatoes); brandy that is not produced from grapes, including slivovitz, kirschwasser,

calvados, and ratafia (cherries, apples, and others); and tequila (Mexican blue agave plant).

In addition some spiritous beverages are produced with spirits that are redistilled or blended

with flavoring spices. Examples are: liqueurs and cordials (based on brandy, cognac, whiskey,

and rum with added extracts and flavors); vodka, gin, and some liqueurs that are flavored

and/or redistilled with fruit, spices, seeds, roots, flowers, sugar, or essences. Some distilled

spirits are also aged, such as whiskeys and brandy.6 Aging is typically carried out in oak

barrels that impart color, additional flavoring, and aromas to the liquors. Spirits range from
 

7

 Proof is defined as two times the percentage amount of ethyl alcohol by volume. For

example, 32 proof creme de cassis contains 16 percent alcohol.

 

8

 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations,(CFR) Title 27, Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms

labeling and advertising of distilled spirits.

 

9

 Harold J. Grossman, Grossman’s Guide To Wines, Beers, And Spirits, 6th (New York:

Charles Scribner and Sons, 1977), p. 4; G. Brown, p. 11, and K. Herstein and T. Gregory, The

Chemistry and Technology of Wines and Liquors (New York, DP: Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1935),

p. 79.

 

10 Column still distillation requires only one distillation to achieve the desired alcoholic

strength. See “stills” section.

 

11 Grossman, p. 305. 

5

low proofs, such as the liqueur creme de cassis, 32 proof,7 to very high proofs, such as 150

proof rums and 196 proof grain neutral spirits.

Spirits are also distinguished by national or regional designation codified in U.S. law.

Examples include brandies—cognac and armagnac produced exclusively in France; Spanish

brandy, Greek brandy; and South American Pisco brandy. Many whiskies are also designated

distinctive products of national origin such as Scotch, Irish, Canadian, and bourbon (U.S.)

whiskies. Tequila is also designated a distinctive product of national origin (Mexico) and, like

all other so designated spirits marketed in the United States, is manufactured in compliance

with the laws of the manufacturing country.8 Some vodkas are also marketed by country of

origin, whether Russian, Polish, Finnish, or Swedish vodkas.

Production Methods

The production of distilled spirits consists of two essential processing steps: (1) fermentation,

whereby the sugar in organic substances such as grain mash or fruit juice is converted to

alcohol, and (2) distillation, whereby of the fermented beverage is purified and strengthened

by boiling, condensation, and collection. Fermentation is the naturally occurring chemical

process that breaks down the sugar of organic substances into ethyl alcohol through a

chemical reaction with the natural agent yeast. During this process, each molecule of sugar

reacts with the yeast and is converted into two molecules of ethyl alcohol or ethanol, C2H5OH,

and two molecules of carbon dioxide gas, CO2.

9

 The gas escapes leaving behind the fermented

product such as beer or wine. The resulting alcoholic beverage is relatively low in alcohol

content (about 8 percent) and retains much of the underlying flavors and characteristics of the

primary base of the organic substance such as grain, fruit, or molasses. 

Distillation is a heating process of boiling the fermented liquid, then collecting and condensing

the vapor in a “still.” The procedure of separating the alcohol from the water-based fermented

solution is possible because alcohol boils at a lower temperature, 173 degrees Fahrenheit, than

water at 212degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling and collecting of the resultant vapors into liquid

form yields a strengthened and purified alcoholic beverage of about 20 percent alcohol by

volume after the initial distillation. Subsequent distillations (for pot stills, see below)10 yield

more concentrated alcohol solutions that can reach 96 percent alcohol by volume,11 yet most
 

12 The higher the volume of alcohol at which a spirit is distilled, the more neutral the spirit,

such that spirits above 90 percent alcohol are essentially flavorless neutral grain spirits.

 

13 Brown, pp. 11-17.

 

14 Ibid.

 

15 Ibid., pp. 11-13, 254.

 

16 Ibid., pp. 11-13.

 

17 The smooth and more uniform quality of spirits produced from a continuous still are used in

many blended scotch varieties. Ibid. p. 18.

 

18 Brown, pp. 11-13.

 

19 U.S. Federal codes use the spelling “whisky” for all whiskies whether or not they are

produced in the United States.

6

spirits are distilled out at between 60 and 80 percent alcohol.12 Although many of the

underlying characteristics of the fermented beverage are lost in the distillation process, the

resultant distillate is more pure, stronger in alcohol by volume, and retains some of the

characteristics of the underlying substances. These retained substances are called congeners

and are essential to the spirits having particular characteristics highly valued by spirits

producers. The higher the proof at which the spirit is distilled, the less flavorful the beverage,

such that vodkas and grain alcohols of high proof are neutral in flavor.

Stills

Various modifications and perfections of the distilling process notwithstanding, distillation

methods and technology have not significantly changed in more than a century.13 The two

basic types of stills are the traditional “pot” still; and the more complex “patent” still. The pot

still is an enclosed copper kettle that narrows toward the top to allow for collection of vapors

as the fermented organic contents are boiled. A downward pipe from the pot still’s head

funnels the distilled vapor through cold water, resulting in the vapor’s condensation and

collection. The pot still is labor-intensive as the pot must be loaded for each distillation

“cycle;” dregs must be emptied, and only a single batch of alcohol can be distilled at a time.14

Pot stills produce spirits that carry through more of the flavors, aromas, and fragrances of the

underlying fermented material. Pot stills are used to produce some whiskies (such as some

single-malt scotch), brandies, and other spirits.

The second, more recently developed, distilling device is the patent or continuous column still

of two chambers. A column has steam rising and wash (or the weak fermented liquid)

descending through successive interior baffles or “stories.”15 The steam strips-out alcohol

from the wash, and carries the alcohol to a second chamber, called a “doubler,” for

condensation at the required strength.16 Compared with the pot still, the column still requires

less labor, costs less to operate, and produces higher proof, purer, and more uniform spirits.

Column stills are used to produce whiskies, (particularly blended scotch,17 and bourbon and

Tennessee whiskies), some brandies,18 vodka, high-proof grain alcohol, and other spirits.

Bourbon production

The unique distilled spirit produced exclusively in the United States is straight whiskey,

including straight bourbon and Tennessee straight whiskey. Straight whiskey,19 according
 

20 Straight whiskies must be labeled if aged for less than 4 years.

 

21 CFR, Labeling.

 

22 Includes “Jack Daniels” and “George Dickel” brands.

 

23 The water in Kentucky and Tennessee is an important ingredient in the production of

bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. It naturally filters through limestone in the region making it

high in calcium and free of iron salts, which aids the yeast in the fermenting process. Charles

Cowdery, “The Bourbon Barrel, Mere Container or Active Partner?” Malt Advocate, found at

http://www.realbeer.com/maltadvocate/S95/S95COWDR.html, retrieved Jan. 19, 2000.

 

24 John Hansell, “The Lincoln County Process,” Malt Advocate, found at

http://www.realbeer.com/maltadvocate/u95/U95DAN.html, retrieved Jan. 19, 2000.

 

25 “From Cereal Corn to Alcohol,” The Whisky Store, found at

http://thewhiskystore.com/experts/starch.htm, retrieved Jan. 19, 2000.

 

26 Cowdery, “So What Is Bourbon Exactly?.”

 

27 “The Baffling World of Bourbon,” The Whisk(e)y Pages, found at

http://whiskeypages.com/All_American/story_1/page3.html, retrieved Dec. 21, 1999.

 

28 At least one distiller is now using the traditional pot still for distillation of bourbon, while a

number of others are considering this distillation method, particularly for highly aged premium

whiskies. “Bourbon’s Great Confidence Trick,” Wine and Spirit International, Jan. 2000, p. 30.

7

to U.S. Federal law, must be made from a mash of grain, distilled at no higher than 160 proof

aged in new charred oak containers for at least 2 years,20 and bottled at a minimum of 40

percent alcohol. In addition, bourbon must be produced from a mash or “distillation beer,”

composed of at least 51 percent corn.21 Tennessee whiskey22 is almost identical to bourbon,

but is filtered through maple charcoal before aging, and because of this additional processing

step, is designated as a unique category of “straight whiskey.”

Figure 1 provides a flow chart of the bourbon production process. Mashing, whereby grain

is converted into starch, is the initial step of production. The basic sweetness of the spirit

comes from corn, the predominant grain ingredient used in bourbon. Most bourbon formulas

are composed from 70 percent to 90 percent corn. In addition, flavoring grains such as wheat

and rye are added to the mash to provide additional flavoring characteristics to the whiskey.

First the corn is milled and boiled in water,23 which breaks down the corn cells releasing

starch. The temperature is then reduced, and depending on the formula, wheat and/or rye and

barley are added to the mixture. Enzymes in the barley assist in the conversion of the starch

in the mash into simple sugars that will become alcohol during the fermentation process. The

entire mashing process takes under an hour. The converted mash is cooled to room

temperature in preparation for fermentation.24

After the mash is cooled, it is sent to a fermentation tub, a large tank, where a water solution

of yeast (a fungus) is added to the mixture to facilitate fermentation. During fermentation,

organic compounds called esters or fruity flavor substances are created that add flavoring

qualities to the fermented mash.25 All bourbon and Tennessee whiskies are produced using the

“sour mash” method of fermentation, where the fermented mash from a previous distillation,

also called “backset,” is added to the mash for each new fermentation.26 This ensures

consistency of character between batches and controls acidity to improve the environment for

the new yeast.27

Fermentation takes 2 to 4 days, after which the newly fermented mash or “distillers beer” is

ready for distillation. Most distillation of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey is carried out in

column stills28 where the “fermenter’s beer” is run through the various heated baffles of
Figure 1

Bourbon production flow chart

Source: Compiled by USITC staff from various sources.

8
 

29 Hansell.

 

30 Ibid. and, Mark Vaughan, “Making Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey,” reprinted by

permission of the author from Sante, vol.1, No. 3, Mar./Apr. 1997, found at

http://www.straightbourbon.com/articles/sm97MarApr.html, retrieved Dec. 21, 1999; and

“Science of ‘Early Times’ Smoothness - Six Steps to Quality,” Brown and Foreman Beverages

Worldwide, found at http://www.earlytimes.com/heritage/3step.html, retrieved Jan. 20, 2000.

 

31 Federal regulations specify that bourbon cannot be produced to exceed 80 percent alcohol.

CFR, labeling. 

 

32 Some distillers produce at a lower proof to manufacture a heavier bourbon with more grain

characteristics, while other bourbon producers distill at a higher alcohol content which yields a

lighter smoother whiskey, then add distilled water to the new whiskey to reduce alcohol content

for barreling and maturation. Cowdery, “So What Is Bourbon Exactly?.”

 

33 Federal regulations specify that no color or flavoring may be added to straight whiskey. 

 

34 Mark Vaughan, “Making Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey.”

 

35 During maturation: “the whiskey gradually soaks into the wood, passing through the char

into the ‘red layer’ of partially-caramelized sugars. In summer, warm temperatures cause the

liquid to expand, forcing it deeper into the wood. When the whiskey cools and contracts, it bring

back flavor and color from the ‘red layer.’ Meanwhile, carbon in the char transforms and

‘softens’ the fusel oils that make ‘green’ whiskey so harsh.” Cowdery, “The Bourbon Barrel,

Mere Container or Active Partner?.”

9

a live steam column which separates the alcohol from the mash. During this process, the

whiskey is in a vapor state, allowing the volatile components from the mash to be burned

off.29The vaporized whiskey is then transported to the second chamber of the column still,

variously called a “doubler” or “thumper,” that further purifies and strengthens the new spirit

to the desired alcohol content.30 New bourbon whiskey typically exits the column still at a

concentration between 55 and 65 percent alcohol31 and is a colorless spirit that is harsh and

relatively sweet compared to the final product.

From the still, the spirit is moved to holding cisterns where distilled or demineralized water

may be added to the new spirit to reduce the alcohol content before barreling and aging.32

Maturation is the final step in the production of bourbon and imparts color and additional

flavoring to the spirit.33 Federal regulations specify that bourbon whiskey be stored in new

charred oak barrels—most bourbon producers use American white oak. Barrels are typically

constructed in 50-gallon sizes with the insides charred or toasted, which caramelizes the

natural sugars in the wood.34 Aging in new charred barrels is an essential production step

because the whiskey derives its distinctive aroma, red amber color, mellowness, and additional

flavoring characteristics from the porous oak barrel.35 Barrels are stored in warehouses for

a minimum of 2 years, but typically they are racked for over 4 years. Once sealed, barrels

cannot be topped off or re-filled. During aging, the whiskey evaporates through the barrel, the

portion lost is known in the industry as the “angel’s share.” As a result, the alcohol content

rises. Before bottling therefore, distilled water may be added to adjust the alcohol content.

Most bourbons are bottled between the legal minimum of 80 proof and 100 proof. Once

bottled, bourbon (and all spirits) does not mature further.
 

36 Standard & Poors’ Industry Surveys.

 

37 Data regarding businesses producing whiskey may reflect double counting. For example,

companies producing unprocessed whiskey may also produce blends of whiskey and therefore

show up in both categories in table A-2.

10

U.S. INDUSTRY PROFILE 

Industry Structure

The structure of the U.S. distilled spirits industry is provided in figure 2. The current three-tier

structure of the U.S. industry developed out of post-Prohibition Federal legislation and the

21st amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Federal and subsequent State legislation prohibit

producers of alcoholic beverages, including manufacturers of distilled spirits, from operating

wholesale distribution and/or retail businesses associated with the alcoholic beverages

industry. The three tiers of the industry—producer/supplier, wholesaler, and retailer—operate

independently from one another, with each of the three tiers proscribed from operating or

having financial interests in any other tier in the industry. See “Government Regulation” and

“Methods and Distribution” sections for further discussion of the functions of the three tiers.

Number, Concentration, Geographic Distribution of Firms

Number and level of concentration of firms

Distilled spirits were produced by 44 companies at 60 production facilities in 1997,

representing a continuous decline of both companies (31 percent) and distilling plants (42

percent) during the past two decades (table A-1). The decline in both companies and

distilleries reflects a decades-long trend of declining consumption, a mature spirits market,

increased regulation, and legal burdens that have forced spirits manufacturers to either merge

with competitors or exit the industry.36

The most recent Census of Manufactures by the U.S. Department of Commerce in Distilleries

1997, indicates that the number of companies in the United States distilling specific categories

of spirits similarly declined during 1987-97. Businesses producing all types of whiskey fell

by 41 percent to 37 companies (table A-2),37 while companies producing rum and gin declined

by about 50 percent to 9 and 12 companies, respectively. For businesses distilling vodka,

liqueurs and cordials, and all other bottled liquors, exit rates from the industry ranged from

35 percent to over 48 percent during the period.

The U.S. spirits industry is highly integrated into the world spirits industry, inasmuch as many

of the leading spirit brands marketed in the United States are owned by multinational

corporations that produce, market and/or are distribution agents for a wide variety of

internationally-produced and traded brands (see table 1). Concentration within the U.S.
11

Figure 2

Distilled spirits: Structure of the U.S. three-tier industry

Grain Farmers

Corn, Wheat, Rye, Barley

Inputs

Grape

Growers

Grain

Markets

Malt

Producers

Packaging

Inputs:

bottles,

labels,

boxes, etc

Wineries

(In-Bond)

Other

Distilleries 

(In-Bond)

Exported Spirits

bulk and bottled Distilled Spirits Plants

Distillers/ Rectifiers/

Warehousers

Imported Spirits

bulk and bottled

Producer

Tier

Importing

Companies

(Importers of

record)

Wholesale Distributors State

Wholesale Tier Agencies

Retail Establishments

Package Stores Retail Tier State Stores

Source: Compiled by the Commission.
12

Table 1

Major U.S. distilled spirits producers/suppliers, parent companies, location of production

facilities, products, and core brands1

U.S. subsidiary,

parent company

(parent company’s

headquarters

location) 

Distilled spirits

Major 

production regions Products portfolio Core brands marketed 2

United Distillers

and Vintners North

America,

Diageo

(United Kingdom)

North America

Europe

Caribbean 

Whiskey

Gin

Vodka

Rum

Liqueurs

Tequila

Brandy/Cognac

Johnny Walker, J&B Rare, Gordon’s,

Gilbey’s, Tanqueray, Smirnoff, Malibu,

Baileys, Jose Cuervo, Hennessy 

Allied Domceq,

USA

Allied Domecq

PLC

(United Kingdom)

Europe

North America

Asia

Caribbean

Whiskey

Gin

Tequila

Liqueurs

Brandy/Cognac

Ballantine’s, Teacher’s, Laphroaig,

Maker’s Mark, Beafeater, Sauza,

Harvey’s Bristol Cream, Kahlua,

Courvoisier, Presidente

Joseph E.

Seagram & Sons,

Seagram Co. Ltd.3

(Canada)

North America

South America

Europe

Asia

Australia

Whiskey

Gin

Rum

Vodka

Brandy/Cognac

Chivas Regal, Seagram 7 Crown, Four

Roses, Crown Royal, Seagram V.O.,

Seagram Gin, Glenlivet, Captain Morgan,

Absolut, Martell

Bacardi-Martini

USA,

Bacardi-Martini

(Bermuda)

North America

Central America

South America

Caribbean

Europe

Rum

Whiskey

Brandy

Gin

Vodka

Liqueurs

Premixed cocktails

Bacardi, Dewars, Bombay Sapphire

Jim Beam Brands,

Fortune Brands

(United States)

United States -

Kentucky

Canada

United Kingdom

Whiskey

Gin

Vodka

Cordials

Premixed cocktails

Jim Beam, DeKuyper Cordials, Ronrico

Brown-Forman 

(United States)

United States -

Tennessee

Canada

Caribbean

Europe

Whiskey

Tequila

Brandies

Premixed cocktails

Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Glenmorangie,

Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort

Barton Inc.

Canadaigua

Brands

(United States)

North America Vodka

Whiskey

Tequila

Barton vodka, Skol, Black Velvet,

Montezuma, Canadian LTD, Thor’s

Hammer Vodka

 1 List is not all-inclusive and subject to change.

 2 Includes agency brands that are marketed but not produced by company.

 3 At the time of publication, French multinational utilities and media conglomerate, Vivendi, is acquiring

Seagram subject to shareholder approval. If approved, Seagram will divest itself of its alcoholic beverages

portfolio.

Source: Compiled by the Commission.
 

38 “World’s Top Spirits Companies, Concentrate on Organic Growth” Impact, vol 29, Nos. 20

& 21, Oct. 15 & Nov. 1, 1999, p.68.

 

39 “Premium spirits” is an important distinction. These premium brands do not include locally

produced and regional brands manufactured in countries such as China and Brazil.

 

40 “World’s Top Spirits Companies,” p. 8. 

 

41 This total differs from Census data referenced on page 11 of this report as these are licensed

establishments.

 

42 California accounts for about 90 percent of all domestically-produced wine.

 

43 Not including New York.

 

44 Not including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida.

13

industry must be viewed within the context of the global spirits industry, where the top 10

multinational companies produce 70 of the leading 100 premium brands marketed.38 In terms

of market share, the five leading global marketers of spirits accounted for 42.5 percent of the

world market for premium spirit brands,39 with the top 10 companies accounting for nearly

60 percent of global spirits sales for premium spirits in 1998.40 Moreover, the largest distilled

spirits company is United Distillers & Vintners, which is more than double the size of the next

largest competitor. These large multinationals market a wide range of spirits including brown,

white, and specialty spirits, and are characterized by extensive product diversification (table

1).

Geographical distribution of firms

Data from the BATF indicates that licenses for operating distilled spirits plants (DSPs) for

beverage purposes were held by 88 establishments in 26 States in 1999 (table A-3).41 The

location of licensed distilled spirits plants is generally a function of geographic proximity to

inputs. For example, California, New York, Oregon, and Washington, the largest U.S. grapeand wine-producing States, account for 45 percent of all U.S. licensed DSPs numbering 40.

In addition to brandy, which is distilled from wine, neutral ethyl alcohol is also manufactured

from wine and can be used as an input to produce other spirit types. California, the center of

U.S. wine and brandy production,42 is the leading State, with 26 licensed DSPs, located

mainly at wineries and vineyards. New York, another large producer of wine and grapes, has

7 licensed DSPs. 

Kentucky, located close to sources of corn and limestone enriched water, is the center of U.S.

whiskey production and has 13 licensed DSPs. Tennessee has three DSPs that principally

manufacture Tennessee straight whiskey. Grain neutral spirits primarily made from corn are

produced in Midwestern States such as Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Florida has two

licensed DSPs, Bacardi Bottling Corp. and Mango Bottling Inc., that are close to major rumproducing regions. Puerto Rico, although not included in table A-3, whose distilleries are

regulated by the BATF has 21 licensed distilleries producing mainly rum. Although DSPs are

generally near sources of inputs, distilled spirits are produced in most regions of the country

including the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States (10 DSPs),43 and Southern States (7 DSPs),44

see table A-3.
 

45 The NAICS classification corresponds with SIC 2085.

 

46 For example see “Conveyors, palletizers cuts costs, product damage,” Modern Materials

Handling; Mid-Sept. 1998. “What’s in Storage,” Beverage World, Aug. 15, 1998. Stefanie

Ringo, “The QC Challenge,” Beverage World, Feb. 15, 1999.

 

47 Steve L. Barsby and Associates, The Regulatory and Economic Basis of Franchised

Wholesaling in the Alcoholic Beverages Industry, prepared for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers

of America Inc., 1983.

 

48 Ibid., p. 1.

14

Employment, Earnings, and Productivity

U.S. distilled spirits producers (NAICS 312140)45 employed a total of 6,500 employees in

1997, of which 71 percent, or 4,600, were production workers. During 1993-97, total

employment in the industry declined by 9 percent, while the workforce employed in production

fell by 10 percent, mainly owing to consolidation within the industry and the addition of labor

saving technology. Wages for all workers increased 3 percent to $252.4 million in 1997, while

total wages earned by production workers declined nearly 2 percent to $158.4 million during

1993-97 (table A-4). Hourly wages per hour for production workers increased modestly,

increasing 5.2 percent during the period to $16.30 in 1997. 

Worker productivity in the industry increased during 1993-97 with fewer workers required

to produce more output. In 1993, 10.4 million man hours were required to produce $3.6

billion of distilled spirit products, yet by 1997, 9.7 million man hours produced nearly $4

billion in product. Increased worker productivity, measured in output per production worker,

increased by over 17 percent during the period (table A-4). Productivity improvements

resulted from a focus by U.S. spirit companies on production of higher -value premium

brands, and by the addition of more efficient production technologies and automation,

particularly after distillation, including improved warehousing techniques, bottling, and

finished product distribution management.46

Vertical and Horizontal Integration

The three-tier structure of the distilled spirits industry prohibits companies in each of the three

tiers (producers/suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers) from operating businesses in other

sectors of the system. This framework severely restricts the kind of downstream vertical

integration that characterized the pre-Prohibition era alcoholic beverages industry, in which

spirits producers and brewers owned and operated retailing establishments called “saloons”

or “tied houses.” The perceived excesses of that system contributed to the drive for Prohibition

(1920-1933).47 Upon repeal, the 21st amendment gave States the power to regulate the sale and

distribution of alcoholic beverages within their jurisdictions. In addition, the U.S. Congress

enacted the Federal Alcohol Administration Act that “prohibited suppliers from having

interests in retail outlets and from engaging in many of the types of commercial practices

which were associated with the ‘tied house’ prior to Prohibition.”48 Upstream vertical

integration is limited as major inputs in the production process for spirits are farm products,

spirits-manufacturing equipment, and packaging materials.
 

49 Impact, vol. 29, No. 13, (July 1), 1999, p. 24.

 

50 Impact, vol. 29, Nos. 15 & 16, (Aug. 1), p. 4.

 

51 Wholesalers carry both distilled spirits and wine. Statistics according to wine industry trade

associations: American Vintners Association, Wine Institute, Et Al, Facts on interstate wine

shipping, found at http://www.freethegrapes.org/, retrieved Mar. 15, 2000.

 

52 Impact, vol. 28, Nos. 8 & 9, (Apr. 15) and (May), 1998, p. 18.

 

53 Impact, vol. 29, No. 9, (May 1), 1999.

15

The distilled spirits industry has undergone major consolidation and restructuring during the

past decade. Many of the industry’s largest producers horizontally integrated with competitors

through merger and acquisition, buyouts, joint-venture agreements, and marketing alliances

due to overall flat or modest sales growth in most major world markets, increased costs of

marketing and distribution, increased regulation, and social and legal pressures. Horizontal

integration has also allowed manufacturers to acquire differentiated product lines across the

wide spectrum of white, brown and specialty products that are marketed globally, as well as

enabling suppliers to increase the exposure of existing brands to new markets. The largest

merger in the industry to date occurred in 1997 between Grand Metropolitan and Guiness

PLC, creating Diageo PLC, whose subsidiary United Distillers and Vintners (UDV) is the

leading U.S. and global spirits producer. Other acquisitions include Canadaigua’s acquisition

of Barton Brands creating the fourth-largest U.S. spirits producer,49 and the acquisition of

leading spirits brands by other global suppliers, Barcardi and Seagram & Sons.

Distilled spirits producers also integrate marketing and distribution operations through jointventure agreements. An example of such a partnership is the joint-venture agreement among

Jim Beam Brands (U.S.), Remy Cointreau (France), and Highland Distillers (U.K.). Under

the partnership agreement, the distillers fund a separate company that markets and distributes

their products. These ventures allow manufacturers to maintain independence yet pool

marketing and distribution resources, enabling them to compete in the increasingly

consolidated global industry.50 Another important integration method in the global spirits

industry is large spirits producers serving as agents for smaller distillers’s products. The large

producers with extensive marketing and distribution networks add these products, referred to

as “agency brands,” to their portfolios. Under this arrangement, smaller producers enjoy the

marketing and distribution clout of large global industry leaders, while large producers add

valuable brands to their product portfolios. Examples of agency brand relationships include

UDV marketing and distributing “Jose Cuervo” brand tequila, Allied Domecq representing

“Kahlua” liqueur, and Joseph Seagram & Sons representing “Absolut” vodka, (table 1).

Horizontal integration and consolidation through mergers, buyouts, and closings have also

characterized the wholesale tier of the alcoholic beverages industry. Over the last four decades

the number of wine and spirits wholesale establishments declined by 75 percent: having

numbered over 10,000 in 1960, there are now just over 2,000 wholesalers in the United

States.51 Markets that once had 12 to 24 wholesale tier competitors now have only 2 to 4

competitors.52 The most recent survey of the U.S. wholesale/distributor tier by Impact, the

alcoholic beverages industry news and research firm, indicates that at the end of 1999, the top

five U.S. wholesalers maintained a 33.1-percent market share, increasing from a 23.1-percent

share in 1990. Moreover, the top 25 wholesale distributors, in terms of sales revenue,

accounted for over 60 percent of the U.S. market in 1999.53
 

54 Ibid., p. 6.

 

55 Sir George Bull, a spirits industry executive for over 40 years, and the former chairman of

UDV parent company, Diageo PLC, commented on the importance of brands at a recent spirits

industry conference: “In an ocean of change [that has beset the industry over the last several

decades, including shrinking volumes and stagnant sales], the brand stands like a gigantic rock

that the wind and waves beat against without any effect whatsoever...our trade relies on brands.

We must always have faith in them and invest in them-that much will never change.” The Impact

22d Annual Marketing Seminar, Mar. 12, 1998. Impact, vol. 28, Nos. 8 & 9, (Apr. 14) and

(May 1), 1998, p. 15.

 

56 Core brands may include third-party “agency brands.”

 

57 For marketing strategies of the world’s leading distillers, see Impact, vol. 29, Nos. 20 &21,

Oct. 15 and (Nov. 1, 1999), pp. 8-18.

 

58 For brand marketing strategy see, Cheryl Palmer, “The high-risk, big reward world of brand

revitalization,” Beverage World, Feb. 15, 1999, p. 96.

 

59 Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook 1998 (New York: Adams Business Media,

1998) p. 227.

 

60 Ibid.

16

Much of the realignment and consolidation in the wholesale tier was brought about by

consolidation in the producer tier. For example, International Distillers & Vintners and United

Distillers each had their own wholesale distributors in particular U.S. markets, but since their

recent merger are reportedly reorganizing distribution contracts to a single distributor for each

market under the newly formed company, UDV.54 Moreover, the overall decline in spirits

consumption, the reduction in the number of producers and retailers, and the technological and

marketing advantages enjoyed by larger wholesale distributors suggest that further

consolidation is likely in the wholesale tier. Horizontal integration through consolidation is

also occurring in the retail tier as larger discount outlets are displacing smaller package stores.

Marketing

The marketing strategy for distilled spirits producers and wholesalers centers around

developing and maintaining branded products. The wave of consolidation and restructuring

among the world’s leading producers during the past decade focused on realigning and

optimizing brand portfolios. Many of the leading distillers restructured brand portfolios to

position marketing resources to higher -value premium core brands.55 For example, industry

leader UDV is concentrating its marketing efforts on nine priority brands that currently

provide over 50 percent of the company’s revenue, and are projected to account for 75 percent

of the firm’s profits. Other leading distillers have similar core-brand56 marketing strategies,

repositioning their portfolios in mature world markets, particularly in the United States where

premium quality brands have experienced sales and volume growth.57

Focusing on enhancing brand image and awareness, advertising and promotion efforts are

targeted towards both retail sales (package stores) and on-premise sales (restaurants and

bars).58 Expenditures for spirits advertising totaled $256.3 million in 1997, with 91 percent

of the outlays spent on promoting the top 50 brands.59 Moreover, the leading 25

producers/suppliers accounted for 99.9 percent of all advertising dollars.60 Advertising is

focused on 4 media categories: magazines, newspapers, outdoor (billboards, etc.),

andbroadcast media. Magazine advertisements receive the majority of funding, accounting for

$212 million or nearly 83 percent of total advertising outlays in 1997 (figure 3).
17

Figure 3

Share of advertising expenditures, 1997

Source: Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook 1998.

Methods of Distribution

Distribution of distilled spirits from suppliers to wholesalers is subject to State regulation, as

provided for by the 21st amendment. There are two types of State distribution systems in the

United States: open-license States and the District of Columbia numbering 33, and control

States numbering 18. Open license states permit private enterprises, licensed by the State, to

purchase distilled spirits from producers/suppliers and to distribute those products to onpremise establishments (restaurants, bars, and other outlets where consumption is permitted)

and off-premise retail outlets (package and liquor stores). Control States operate State

monopolies that serve the same function as privately owned wholesalers, but are the sole

wholesaler and distributor of spirits within their borders. Some control States are also

monopoly retailers, selling spirits exclusively in State-operated stores, while other control

States sell to privately-owned and licensed retail package stores.
 

61 Distilled spirits and wine are handled by the same set of wholesalers while beer is

wholesaled and distributed through separate wholesale establishments and is sold through private

wholesalers in all States. WSWA website found at http://www.wswa.org/whole/history.htm,

retrieved Mar. 22, 2000.

 

62 WSWA website found at http://www.wswa.org/about/faq.htm, retrieved Mar. 22, 2000.

 

63 Ibid. 

 

64 M. Shanken Communications Inc., Market Watch, Mar.-Apr. 2000, p. 7.

 

65 Commission discussion with the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association, Inc.,

Mar. 23, 2000.

18

According to the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America Inc. (WSWA), approximately 500

wholesale/distribution firms operated as wine and spirits61 wholesalers.62 Wholesalers are

active partners with suppliers and retailers in the marketing process. In addition to purchasing

spirits from suppliers/producers and selling them to restaurants and retail establishments,

wholesalers offer credit to retailers, conduct marketing activities such as promoting products

through tastings for on- and off- premise establishments, develop advertising and promotional

programs in local markets, and serve as local representatives for producers.63 Licensed

retailers operating in the United States are estimated to number between 550,000 and

600,000.64

Pricing Practices

Each State has its own unique and widely -varying price structure for distilled spirits. In

control States, the State Government, acting as the sole wholesaler, sets uniform wholesale

prices paid by retail establishments. In control States that are also monopoly retailers for offpremise spirits sales (State package or ABC stores), retail prices for distilled spirits products

are uniform throughout the State. Because of the monopoly structure of control states, prices

for spirits at the retail level are more uniform65 compared to open license States where prices

are more likely to vary according to market factors.

Federal and State taxes are significant determinants of the retail price for spirits and limit the

flexibility of producers to set retail prices as taxes account for a significant percentage of the

retail price. Moreover, widely varying State and local tax patterns for distilled spirits detract

from the distillers’ ability to devise national-scale strategies for pricing, advertising, and

marketing programs.

Distilled spirits prices, as measured by the producer (PPI) and consumer price indexes (CPI)

tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, indicate that most spirits prices increased modestly,

by less than 10 percent during 1995-99. Producer prices (the price paid by wholesalers to

suppliers) have demonstrated less price inflation than consumer prices. The PPI for all

distilled and blended liquors increased by 3.1 percent during the period (table A-5). The PPI

for all bottled liquor, except brandy, increased by 5.7 percent during the period, with bottled

whiskey (8.6 percent), vodka (6.6 percent), and gin (5.9 percent) experiencing the largest price

increases at the wholesale level. Liqueurs and cordials, and other bottled spirits, except

brandy, experienced price inflation of just under 3 percent during the same period (table A-5).

Moderate price rises for whiskies, vodka, and gin can be partially explained by higher prices

for premium, high -value products that have been a major component of the U.S. spirits

market during the period.
 

66 Off-premise establishments (liquor and package stores) correspond to the CPI for “distilled

spirits at home.” 

 

67 Credit is provided for wine and flavor content. BATF,“Tax and Fee Rates,” found at

http://www.atf.treas.gov/core/alcohol/info/atftaxes.htm, retrieved Jan. 24, 1999.

 

68 DISCUS, http://www.DISCUS.org/repguide.htm, retrieved Mar. 24, 2000.

 

69 DISCUS argues that Federal and State taxes account for 39 percent of the purchase price on

a typical 750ml bottle of spirits, and that indirect taxes and fees raise the total to 58 percent. See

DISCUS “Fact Sheet, Distilled Spirits Excise Taxes,” found at

http://www.DISCUS.org/exctaxfact.htm, retrieved Mar. 24, 2000.

 

70 Collection figures correspond to tax assessments, and are subject to revision. Totals may

differ from statistics in BATF Chief Financial Officer Annual Reports. 

 

71 The Federal Government assesses a “regular rate” of $17 per barrel on beer, while wine is

taxed at differential rates ranging from $1.07 - $3.40 per wine gallon, depending on alcohol

content and type. For full Federal tax rates see BATF “Tax and Fee Rates,” found at

http://www.atf.treas.gov/core/alcohol/info/atftaxes.htm, retrieved Jan. 24, 2000. 

19

Consumer prices paid by urban consumers for distilled spirits at retail establishments,

including on- and off-premise outlets,66 increased by an average of just over 7 percent during

1995-99, indicating less price escalation than overall prices for alcoholic beverages, which

increased more than 10 percent during the period (table A-5). The CPI for distilled spirits

purchased at off-premise package stores rose by 7.2 percent, while the CPI for spirits,

excluding whiskey, rose by 7.4 percent. Whiskey prices purchased from package stores rose

by 7.2 percent during the period. Prices for all alcoholic beverages sold at retail package

stores increased by 7.4 percent, tracking closely with the moderate consumer price increases

for distilled spirits. The CPI for all alcoholic beverages at restaurants and bars experienced

the highest price increases, rising 13.9 percent during the period (table A-5).

Taxes

Distilled spirits are subject to Federal, State, and local taxes that account for a significant

percentage of the retail cost to consumers. Federal excise taxes, paid by producers/suppliers,

are levied at $13.50 per proof gallon of ethyl alcohol which translates to about $2.14 per

750ml bottle of 80 proof spirits.67 At the State and local level, distilled spirits are subject to

excise taxes levied on the basis of wine gallons or liters, and ad valorem taxes based on

value.68 State and local taxes are collected by the wholesalers/distributors and/or at the retail

sales counter. These taxes vary by State and local jurisdiction. The distilled spirits industry

trade association, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), maintains that

distilled spirits are “the most heavily taxed consumer product in the United States,” and bear

a higher burden of taxation than other alcoholic beverages, beer or wine.69

U.S. Federal taxes collected70 on distilled spirits totaled $3.7 billion in 1999, of which more

than 79 percent or nearly $3 billion was levied on domestically-produced spirits, while taxes

on imported products accounted for $758.7 million (table A-6). Federal taxes collected

remained relatively stable during fiscal years 1996-99, increasing by 2.1 percent during the

period. Federal taxes in fiscal year 1999 on beer ($3.4 billion) and wine ($654 million)71 also

remained relatively stable, increasing 0.6 percent and 5.4 percent respectively during the

period. 
 

72 Federation of Tax Administrators, “State Tax Rates on Distilled Spirits,” found at

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/liquor.html, retrieved Feb. 27, 2000.

 

73 For updated list of state excise and other state taxes, see Federation of Tax Administrators

website: http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/liquor.html. 

 

74 Ibid.

 

75 DISCUS “Fact Sheet, Distilled Spirits Excise Taxes,” found at

http://www.disCUS.org/exctaxfact.htm, retrieved Mar. 24, 2000.

 

76 21st amendment, Sec. 2: “The transportation or importation into any State, territory, or

possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of

the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.”

 

77 The FAA was abolished in 1940 when its functions were transferred to the Treasury

Department. The BATF was established in 1968. Grossman, p. 501.

 

78 For Federal Regulations on alcoholic beverages, including distilled spirits, see BATF

website, http://www.atf.treas.gov/regulations/index.htm.

20

According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, an organization whose members include

all 50 State tax collection agencies, excise taxes on distilled spirits were assessed in all 33

open-license states. Rates ranged from $1.50 to $6.50 per wine gallon, with the median rate

levied amounting to $3.50 on each gallon of spirits;72 most excise taxes are collected from

wholesalers/distributors. License States do not levy excise taxes because State monopolies are

the sole wholesalers in their States; however, revenues are generated from net liquor profits

and various fees. Sales taxes are applied on spirits in 42 States, with 4 of those States

charging sales tax only for on-premise sales. In addition, 24 open-license States charge

additional taxes, such as differential liquor taxes for on- and off-premise establishments.73

Local jurisdictions, such as New York City and Chicago, and individual counties may also

levy special taxes on distilled spirits.74 According to DISCUS, excise taxes levied by all three

levels of government have been increased more than 200 times since 1980.75

Government Regulation

The 21st amendment provided for two levels of government oversight and regulation of the

distilled spirits industry. Federal authorities were given regulatory authority over such

industry activities as consumer protection, trade practices, and collection of taxes, while State

Governments were granted explicit regulatory control over channels of distribution within

their borders.76

Federal regulation

The Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA) of the 1930s enacted after Prohibition

provided for the initial regulation of the alcoholic beverages industry at the Federal level.77

The Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is the Federal agency

that enforces the rules related to distilled spirits set forth in Title 27 of the Code of Federal

Regulations.78 These rules relate to quality and standards issues, such as standards of identity,

formula composition, certification of age, labeling, fill requirements, and advertising. In

addition, the BATF oversees the licensing and operations of distilled spirits plants, rectifiers

and other manufacturers, regulates imports, and ensures the collection of Federal excise taxes.
 

79 Statement of Douglas W. Metz, special counsel, WSW, found at

http://www.wswa.org/dir_ship/testimony.htm, retrieved Feb. 27, 2000.

 

80 Open-license States (jurisdictions) include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,

Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,

Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri,

Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode

Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. DISCUS Summary of

State Laws & Regulations Relating to Distilled Spirits, 29th ed., Jan. 1996. 

 

81 Control States include Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New

Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,

West Virginia, and Wyoming. Montgomery County, MD is also a monopoly control jurisdiction.

Ibid.

 

82 National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), “Background,” found at:

http://www.nabca.org/memberbackground.html, retrieved Mar. 28, 2000.

 

83 Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc., (DISCUS), “Fact Sheet: Primary Source

Law,” found at http://www.discus.health.org/primsour.htm, retrieved Mar.23, 2000.

 

84 Frederick M. Switzer, “The Three-Tier System Of Distribution in the Wine and Spirits

Industry” (St. Louis: Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, 1975) p. 8.

21

State regulation

At the time of the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the states were given total authority to control

all aspects of the distribution and sale of distilled spirits within their borders, with “virtual

plenary powers to regulate alcoholic beverages.”79 Eighteen States have chosen to directly

control wholesale spirits distribution (control States), while 33 States and the District of

Columbia 80 license private commercial entities to serve as wholesalers (open-license States).

Both systems serve the function of separating producers from retailers, as envisioned in the

21st amendment. 

Control States are monopoly purchasers and wholesalers of distilled spirits.81 Under this

system, all distilled spirits must be purchased through the state wholesale authority. Control

State systems also regulate the retail sale of distilled spirits through a variety of outlets.

Control States operate (or license) State package stores, contract agency package outlets, and

privately owned package stores, or a combination of these retail establishments.82

Open-license States allow private wholesale establishments to purchase and distribute distilled

spirits. The majority of open-license states have “primary source laws” that require suppliers

to sell to in-state wholesalers; these are also known as “coming to rest” laws. Ensuring

wholesale distribution through in-state distributors facilitates tax collection and audit

procedures.83 Most open-license State laws also include legislation that prohibits suppliers,

wholesalers, and retailers from having business interests in sectors outside of their tier. This

ensures the independence of wholesalers and limits the ability of dominant suppliers to control

the downstream wholesale and retail markets that characterized the pre-Prohibition industry.84
 

85 World Drink Trends 1999 (Henley-on-Thames, NTC Publications Ltd.,1999), p. 13.

 

86 1978 per capita consumption totaled 3.15 lpa compared to 1.86 in 1998. Ibid., p. 136.

 

87 USDA, “If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation,” found at

http://www.nalusda.gov/fnic/dga/dga95/alcohol.html, retrieved Feb. 14, 2000.

 

88 Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook 1998 (New York: Adams Business Media,

1998) p. 13.

22

U.S. MARKET

The United States is one of the world’s leading consumers of distilled spirits. Per capita

consumption, estimated at 1.86 liters of pure alcohol (lpa) in 1998, ranked the United States

among the world’s top 20 consuming countries, and in the top 5 nations in terms of total

apparent spirits consumption, with over 500 million lpa.85 Although world production data are

not readily available, estimates in World Drink Trends place the United States, with output

in 1997 of over 5 million hectoliters of pure alcohol, as the world’s third-largest producer of

spirits after China and Russia, (table A-7). 

Factors Affecting Demand

Two contradictory health trends have affected U.S. consumption of distilled spirits during the

past three decades. Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing through the early 1990s

consumers shifted demand away from spiritous beverages to lower alcohol and nonalcoholic

beverages as a result of increased health awareness, particularly among the baby-boom

generation. Although consumption rates for all alcoholic beverages declined, per capita rates

for spirits dropped by the greatest magnitude, falling by over 40 percent.86

More recent health information made public in the mid 1990s and subsequent epidemiological

evidence suggests that some alcohol consumption may have beneficial health affects. USDA

dietary guidelines now advise that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages may lower

the risk of coronary heart disease.87 This positive health information has not reversed the

decades-long decline in consumption although the rate of decline has slowed. Per capita rates

during 1993-97 fell by 6.1 percent (table A-8), compared to a 14-percent drop during the

previous 5-year period.88

Other factors influencing consumption of spiritous beverages include increased government

regulation, measures to limit under-age consumption, and demographic changes in the

consumer base. In addition, greater awareness and enforcement of driving-under-the-influence

laws, and stricter State blood alcohol level legislation have also affected alcoholic beverage

consumption rates.
 

89 The distilled spirits industry uses 9-liter cases as the unit of volume for consumption. All

references to cases are for 9-liter cases. See conversion factors table A-9 for conversion to proof

gallons and wine gallons.

23

Consumption

Consumption trends

Consumption of distilled spirits amounted to 138 million 9-liter89 cases in 1998, representing

a marginal increase in total consumption of 1.7 percent during 1995-98, owing to increased

imports (table A-10). Consumption of white spirits, (vodka, gin, rum, and tequila) totaling 65

million cases outpaced brown spirits (whiskey) consumption of 43 million cases in 1998

(figure 4).

During 1995-98, consumption of both white and brown spirit categories were relatively stable.

Consumption of white spirits categories increased by 4 percent, while consumption of brown

spirits slipped by 6 percent (table A-10). Consumption of specialty spirits rose by 10 percent

to 30 million cases in 1998.

Among market leading white spirits, vodka was the leading spirit of choice for U.S.

consumers, accounting for just over one-quarter of all spirits purchases during 1995-1998

(figure 5). Vodka consumption was steady during the period with annual consumption in 1998

of 35 million cases. Consumption of rum (13 million cases) and tequila (7 million cases)

posted double-digit growth rates, increasing by 14 percent and 25 percent respectively.

Consumption of gin fell by nearly 7 percent to 11 million cases in 1998 (table A-10).

Consumption of almost all categories of brown spirits declined during 1995-1998. Canadian

whiskey, the leading brown spirits category, fell by 5.6 percent to 15 million cases in 1998,

while consumption of the second-leading consumed brown spirit, U.S.-produced straight

whiskey, including bourbon and Tennessee whiskies, declined by 3 percent to 13 million cases.

Scotch (8.3 million cases), and American blended whiskey (6.2 million cases) also experienced

contraction of consumer demand during the period (table A-10).

Consumption of specialty spirits recorded gains of 10 percent during the 1995-98. Apparent

consumption of cordials and liqueurs totaling 17.3 million cases in 1998, was the secondleading consumed spirit category (after vodka). Consumption by volume for liqueurs and

cordials increased by 5.5 percent during the period. Brandy/Cognac (9 million cases), and

premixed drinks and cocktails (4 million cases) each recorded strong growth rates in apparent

consumption, recording gains of 13 percent and 29 percent during 1995-98 (table A-10).
24

Figure 4

Distilled spirits: U.S. consumption of distilled spirits by category, 1998

Total distilled spirits = 138.1 million 9-liter cases

Source: “U.S. Market’s Higher-End Brands Continue to Bolster Their Presence,” Impact, M. Shanken

Communications Inc., vol 29, Nos. 15 and 16, Aug. 1 and 15, 1999, pp. 8-10.
25

s consumption by category, 1998

Figure 5

Distilled spirits: U.S. shares of distilled spirit 

Total whiskey = 42.7 million 9-liter cases Total white spirits = 65.3 million 9-liter cases

Source: “U.S. Market’s Higher-End Brands Conhnue to Bolsler Their Presence,” Impact, M. Shanken

Communications Inc., vol 29, Nos. 15 and 16, Aug. 1 and 15, 1999, pp. 8-10.

Total specialties = 30.1 million 9-liter cases
26

Consumer Characteristics

Tables A-11 through A-15 provide demographic statistics on U.S. consumers of distilled

spirits. By gender, males consume nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of all distilled spirits

products consumed in the United States (table A-11). Consumers aged 60 and over were

the leading consumers of spiritous beverages, accounting for 33 percent of total

consumption, followed closely by the 30-39 age bracket, which purchased 28 percent of

spirits consumed. Young consumers ages 20-29, an important age group for distillers

focusing on developing brands and building market share, were the smallest consuming age

group, accounting for just over 7 percent of U.S. consumption (table A-12).

Identifying and targeting specific age groups is fundamental for spirits marketers seeking to

strengthen and/or alter category and brand demand. Some spirits categories are closely

correlated with particular age groups; for example in 1998, 81 percent of consumers of scotch

were 60 years and older, while nearly 60 percent of tequila drinkers were under 40 years old.

Consumption of bourbon, vodka and gin were more evenly distributed among age groups

(table A-13). 

Consumption of spiritous beverages by geographic region was relatively uniform throughout

the United States: The West region (32.5 percent share by volume) led all regions in volume

consumption, followed by the South (29.1 percent), North Central (20.9 percent), and the

Northeast regions (17.5 percent) (table A-14). Regional consumption rates for all alcoholic

beverages were nearly reversed. The South and Northeast region each captured 30 percent of

volume consumption, followed by the North Central (20.3 percent) and Western regions (19.6

percent) (table A-14).

Household income appears to be positively correlated to distilled spirits consumption.

Households with incomes of $35,000 and over accounted for two-thirds of all spirits

consumed, with the highest income bracket, $60,000 and over, consuming 32 percent, the

largest share of the total. Households in the under $15,000 income bracket consumed the least

spiritous beverages by volume, 8.7 percent (table A-15).

Import Penetration Levels

Figure 6 displays the import levels for various categories of distilled spirits. Imported

spirits accounted for over one-third of all distilled spirits consumed in the United States in

1998, amounting to 52 million cases (table A-16). Import penetration was greatest in the

whiskey category, with imported spirits capturing 57 percent (26 million cases) of

apparent U.S. consumption of mainly Canadian and Scotch whiskies compared to

43 percent for domestically-produced whiskey spirits (19 million cases). 

Import penetration is also significant in other distilled spirits categories. Imported vodka,

amounting to 6 million cases in 1998, accounted for over 17 percent of apparent consumption

that year, while imports of cordials and liqueurs (7 million cases) and gin (2.6 million cases)

totaled 43 percent and 23 percent, respectively, of U.S. consumption of their respective

categories (table A-16). Imports are also significant among products that are not

manufactured in the United States, including tequila, an exclusive product of Mexico (6

million cases), and cognac distilled in France (2.4 million cases).
27

19.2

Domestic 42.9%

25.6

Imports 57.1%

(Million 9-liter cases)

Whiskey consumption, imports vs. domestic, 1998

Figure 6

Distilled spirits: Percentage U.S. consumption of domestic and imported

spirits for all spirits and by category, 1998

Source: Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook, 1999.
 

90 Includes production byproducts such as dried grains and solubles used as animal feeds.

 

91 DOC, Distilleries, 1997 Economic Census.

28

Imports of bulk distilled spirits bottled in the United States represent a sizable share of the

imported spirits market. Over 60 percent of Canadian whiskey shipments were imported in

bulk containers representing 9.7 million cases in 1998, while imports of bottled Canadian

whiskey totaled 6.1 million cases the same year (table A-16). Imports of bulk Scotch whisky

accounted for 3.3 million cases or 35 percent of total Scotch imports. Other products imported

in bulk quantities and bottled in the United States include tequila, rum, and some liqueurs and

cordials.

Conditions of Competition Between Foreign and

U.S. Spirits Products

Distilled spirits production is truly global. The largest spirits companies operating in the

United States are headquartered outside the country so that competition between U.S. and

foreign-produced spirits can be ambiguous. Specific distilled spirits such as Scotch, Canadian

whiskey, tequila, and many branded cordials and liqueurs are not manufactured in the United

States. Competition among these imported spirits and domestically produced spirits is at a

broader category level. Other spirits products including vodka and gin that are produced both

domestically and internationally foster closer competition for U.S. consumers, particularly for

the high-quality premium branded products where price is not the only factor driving demand.

For example, product differentiation between imported Scotch whisky and U.S.-produced

bourbon is greater than between: Finlandia vodka produced in Finland and Skyy vodka

produced in the United States.

Production

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the total value of

production at U.S. distilleries,90 (North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)

number 31214) was $3.9 billion in 1997,91 with the value of primary distilled spirits products

manufactured amounting to $3.4 billion, a nominal increase in value of 6.4 percent during

1987-97 (table A-17). The real value of production adjusted for inflation, however, indicates

that the deflated value of spirits produced actually declined 26 percent during 1987-97, and

declined 7.5 percent in real terms during the past 5 years (table A-17). 

Production of bottled spirits, totaling $2.6 billion accounted for over 75 percent of the value

of output produced by U.S. distilleries in 1997 (table A-17). During the most recent 10 year

period for which data are available, this represented a nominal increase in production.

However, adjusting for inflation, the real value of production actually dropped by 31 percent

during 1987-97. Whiskey was the leading bottled spirit produced, accounting for more than

$1 billion (nearly 85 million gallons) of production in 1997 (table A-18). Among whiskies,

unprocessed or straight whiskey, including bourbons and Tennessee whiskies, was the leading

bottled whiskey category produced, totaling $651 million (46 million gallons) in 1997. Vodka,

accounting for 33.6 million gallons of production was the second-leading bottled spirits
 

92 BATF monitors production in proof gallons because that is the unit value on which taxes

are levied.

 

93 Full-year data are not available from BATF for 1996, period includes 1993-1995. See table

A-19.

 

94 Figure may also include industrial, non-beverage-use alcohol.

29

category produced, followed by cordials and liqueurs (28.4 million gallons), and gin (13.2

million gallons).

Production of unprocessed whiskey nearly doubled during 1987-97, as a result of strong

demand, with the real value of production increasing 24 percent and volume rising by 97

percent during this period. Production volumes of all other categories of bottled whiskies

declined, with blends of whiskey falling in volume by 60 percent, and the “other whiskey”

category declining by 42 percent due to weak consumer demand (table A-18). Production of

bottled gin, cordials & liqueurs, and vodka also fell in both real value and quantity of

production during 1987-97, see table A-18.

Volumes of production, measured in proof gallons92 tracked by the BATF are displayed in

table A-19. The largest category of production was ethyl alcohol with a strength of over 190

degrees proof. This category includes vodka and neutral liquors used for manufacture of

distilled spirits, and for nonbeverage industrial purposes. Production of whiskey of 160 proof

and under exhibited growth during the most recent period for which full-year data is

available,93 while production of most other spirits categories remained stable.

Inputs

Grains, the principal raw materials used in the production of distilled spirits, are listed in table

A-20. Corn and corn products were the leading input, accounting for over 90 percent of the

grain used in production or 7.2 billion pounds, in 1995.94 Wheat and wheat products were the

second-leading grain (316.4 million pounds), followed by sorghum (196.5 million pounds),

rye (80.9 million pounds), and malt (80.5 million pounds). According to the BATF, grain

usage by the distilled spirits industry was relatively stable, decreasing by 3.3 percent between

1993 and 1995.

A listing of the input values used by distilleries in the production of spiritous beverages in

1997, as compiled by the Census Bureau, is provided in table A-17. In addition to grain and

grain products, distilling companies purchased: glass containers ($337.6 million), plastic

containers ($63 million), cooperage or barrels used for aging ($46.3 million), and paperboard

boxes and containers ($23.4 million).

Distilled spirits plants/locations of production

Flat to declining production levels in the U.S. distilled spirits industry are reflected in the

decline in plant capacity utilization levels for U.S. DSPs. For plants producing distilled and

blended liquors, the percent utilization of plant capacity amounted to 63 percent in 1998,

falling from 81-percent utilization recorded in 1993 (table A-21). Plant utilization for wines,

brandy, and brandy spirits plants exhibited higher utilization levels (79 percent). In
 

95 Small quantities of whiskey were produced in Indiana and Virginia.

30

comparison, malt beverage plants operated at 82-percent capacity in 1998, while soft drink

plants operated at 60 percent capacity. The average utilization rate for all beverages plants

totaled 68 percent.

Table A-22 displays the distribution of distillery establishments by number of employees as

tracked by the Department of Commerce. The data indicate that DSPs are generally not largescale operations as measured by number of workers. Out of the 60 DSPs for which data were

compiled, nearly half, or 27 DSPs employed fewer than 50 employees, with 18 of those plants

employing 19 or fewer workers. DSPs with 100 to 249 employees were the most numerous,

numbering18 DSPs, while only 9 establishments employed more than 250 workers each.

According to the latest data of the BATF, Kentucky with output of 42.2 million proof gallons

(p.g) and Tennessee with output of 13.4 million p.g., were the principal States manufacturing

whiskey spirits (table A-23).95 Gin, manufactured with mainly ethyl alcohol and with U.S.

production totaling 12.5 p.g., was produced in Indiana (7.4 million p.g.), Illinois (1.9 million

p.g.), and Iowa (1.4 million p.g.). U.S. brandy production (11.2 million p.g.) was produced

in California (9.1 million p.g.) and Florida (2.1 million p.g.). Most rum consumed in the

United States is produced in Puerto Rico; however, a small quantity is manufactured in

Florida (800 thousand p.g.).

U.S. TRADE

Overview

The United States ranked as the world’s leading importer of distilled spirits with the value of

imports for consumption totaling $2.4 billion in 1999, nearly three times the value of the

world’s second-leading importer, Japan. Domestic exports totaling $440 million ranked U.S.

shipments in the top five exporting nations (tables A-24, A-25, and A-26). The U.S. trade

deficit for spirits, amounting to $1.9 billion in 1999, expanded by nearly 60 percent during

1995-1999, with the United States registering trade deficits with 8 out of the top 10 trading

partners at the end of the period (table A-24). 

U.S. trade flows of spiritous beverages are dominated by trade with the developed countries

of the OECD which accounted for 95 percent of U.S. imports and 87 percent of U.S. exports

during 1999 (table A-24). Among these nations, most represent mature markets with static

growth in consumption, while trade with many Asian and Latin American countries that

represent potential market growth declined or remained flat, owing to weakness in their

economies during the period.
 

96 The United States classifies Scotch and Irish whiskies under one HTS item, 2208.30.30. In

1999, Scotch whisky accounted for nearly 95 percent of these imports, see table A-28.

 

97 This does not include rum from Puerto Rico and other rum produced within the United

States customs territory.

31

U.S. Imports

Principal Import Suppliers and Import Levels

Products imported

Record values of imports were recorded in nearly all major categories of distilled spirits in

1999. Whiskey was the leading import, accounting for $856 million (table A-27). Scotch and

Irish whiskey96 was the largest whiskey type imported on a value basis totaling $494 million

for bottled and bulk products. The “other” whiskey category composed of mainly Canadian

whiskey, was the second leading whiskey import category with $362 million in imports in

1999. Imports of liqueurs and cordials, which represented the most diversified distilled spirit

product category, amounted to $432 million in imports. Although the United States is a large

producer of vodka, gin, and brandy, imports of those spirits were significant in 1999, with

shipments of vodka totaling $367 million, brandy $345 million, and gin amounting to $112

million. Imports of rum totaling $23 million97 and the “other spirits”category with imports

amounting to $247 million also recorded record values in 1999 (table A-27). 

Whiskey was also the leading U.S. import by volume, with shipments totaling 173 million

proof liters (p.l.) in 1999 (table A-27). Imports by volume of vodka (54 million p.l.), liqueurs

and cordials (47 million p.l.), and brandy (24 million p.l.) increased by double digit rates

during the period. Most spiritous beverages are imported in retail sized bottles; however,

several spirit categories including whiskey, rum, and tequila are imported in bulk containers

for bottling at U.S. distilled spirits plants.

The unit value of imported spirits ranged from high values for brandy ($14 per p.l.) and

bottled Scotch and Irish whiskies ($11 per p.l.) to liqueurs and cordials ($9 per p.l.) and vodka

($7 per p.l.) to lower unit value products such as gin ($5 per p.l.) and rum ($2 per p.l.). With

the exception of the liqueurs and cordials category, the unit value of all imported spirits

increased, with whiskey and brandy displaying the greatest increases, recording over 30-

percent growth in import unit values during 1995-99 (table A-27).

Import levels and trends

The rapid expansion of imported spirits into the United States, representing a 46-percent rise

in value during 1995-99, was generated by a strong U.S. economy and increases in income

that allowed consumers to trade up to higher value premium imported spirits. Although overall

demand for spiritous beverages remained relatively stable, the value of imports grew by

double-digit rates (table A-27). Imports of whiskey increased by 28 percent in value, with the

value of shipments of bottled Scotch and Irish whiskies rising by 39 percent. Imports of “other
 

98 USITC, Advice Concerning the Proposed Modification of Duties on Certain Information

Technology Products and Distilled Spirits, Investigation No. 332-380, USITC publication 3088,

Apr. 1997, p. E2-3.

32

whiskey,” primarily Canadian, rose by 23 percent, to $362 million in 1999. Strong growth in

import value was also recorded for brandy (increasing by 70 percent), vodka (63 percent), gin

(41 percent), and rum (107 percent).

Principal import suppliers

As indicated in table A-28 displaying major supplier countries and products, the EU, Canada

and Mexico are the principal suppliers of spiritous beverages to the United States. Imports

from the United Kingdom, the leading supplier of whiskey and gin, totaled $605 million in

1999, representing a 27-percent increase in shipments during 1995-99 (table A-24).

Shipments from France, the second-leading supplier, of mainly brandy and liqueurs, jumped

by 67 percent to $523 million. Other leading suppliers included Canada, the leading supplier

of whiskey by volume, with shipments amounting to $378 million, Mexico supplying mainly

tequila ($210 million), and Sweden supplying mainly vodka ($189 million). The U.S. trade

deficit in distilled spirits with these five leading supplier countries totaled more than $1.9

billion in 1999.

Imports from principal supplier countries by value, volume, and unit values are provided in

table A-29. The value of shipments for all leading supplier countries increased, with France,

Mexico, Russia, and the Netherlands posting the largest rates of increase in value during

1995-98. Imports from Canada were the leading import by volume, comprised of Canadian

whiskey in bottled and bulk shipments. Whiskey shipments were also the principal shipment

from the United Kingdom, the second-leading supplier by volume. Unit values of imports were

high from France, amounting to over $15 per proof liter during 1995-99 owing to its principal

shipments, brandy and liqueurs, having relatively low alcohol and high value per volume of

spirit. Imports from Ireland, consisting mainly of liqueurs, similarly recorded high per unit

import values. The lowest unit value imports originated in Canada and Mexico owing to a

substantial portion of lower priced bulk shipments that are bottled in the United States (table

A-29). 

U.S. Trade Measures

Most distilled spirits products enter the United States duty-free. At the WTO Ministerial

Conference in December 1996, the United States and the EU concluded an agreement to

eliminate tariffs on most categories of distilled spirits by 2000. Along with the Information

and Technology Agreement (ITA) reached at the ministerial, the “zero for zero”agreement on

spirits, promoted by the U.S. and EU industries, accelerated tariff reduction on whiskies and

brandy (“brown spirits”) that were scheduled to be eliminated in 2003 as part of the Uruguay

Round Agreements, and added “white spirits” vodka, gin, and liqueurs and cordials. Special

provisions were made for rum: high-value rum is scheduled for tariff elimination in 2003,

while tariffs on low-value rum were maintained in order to provide preferential treatment for

Virgin Island and Caribbean suppliers.98 Table A-30 provides the Harmonized Tariff Schedule

(HTS) tariff rates for U.S. distilled spirits imports. Column 1 indicates the “normal tariff
 

99 In the U.S. Customs Service Schedule B (U.S. export schedule), “bourbon” includes

Tennessee straight whiskey. 

33

rates” (NTR) that are applied to WTO member countries. For most categories of spirits the

U.S. tariff rate is “free.” 

At the four-digit HTS level 2208, under which most distilled spirits are classified, column 1

tariffs are only applied to rum products. As part of the ITA, the United States and EU

maintained tariff rates on rum in order to provide preferential treatment to imports of rum

from certain Caribbean countries. These rum products enjoy duty free treatment as part of the

Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) that afford protection against lower-cost producers in

Central and South America. NTRs for rum (2208.40) range from 13¢-23.7¢ per proof liter.

U.S. tariffs on other distilled spirits products, including compound preparations containing

alcohol (2106.90) have 2000 tariff rates ranging from 4.2¢/kg - 17¢/kg plus 1.9 percent; ethyl

alcohol with an alcoholic strength over 80 percent by volume used for beverage purposes

(2207.10.30) is 18.9¢/proof liter; and ethyl alcohol under 80 percent alcohol by volume

(2208.90.80) is 21.1¢ per proof liter. These products were not part of the ITA agreement and

are not eligible for duty-free treatment.

U.S. Exports

Principal Markets and Export Levels

Products exported

Tables A-31 through A-33 summarize export data for major categories of distilled spirits

providing total and per unit values and volume statistics for the most recent 5-year period. The

data indicate that U.S. exports of spiritous beverages were dominated by shipments of

bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.99 In 1999, bourbon amounted to $302 million or 70 percent

of all U.S. spirits exports (table A-31). Shipments included 38 million proof liters of bottled

bourbon valued at $261 million, and 21.4 million proof liters of bourbon in bulk containers

($41 million). All other exports of whiskey amounted to 9.6 million liters valued at $24.9

million. Exports of rum valued at $29 million were the second-leading export category

representing 7 percent of spirits shipments, with bulk rum (19.7 million proof liters)

accounting for over three-quarters of all rum shipments by volume. Exports of liqueurs and

cordials representing 5 percent by value or 3 percent by volume of U.S. shipments, totaled $20

million with shipments of 3.1 million proof liters, while shipments of vodka, brandy, and gin

were relatively small, each totaling under $8 million in 1999. All other exports of distilled

spirits, with the exception of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic preparations, were valued at

$36.4 million amounting to 14.3 million proof liters (table A-31).

Exports of bottled spirits have higher average per unit values than bulk products. In 1999, for

example, bottled bourbon averaged $6.90 per proof liter and was the highest valued spiritous

beverage exported, contrasted with bulk bourbon valued at $1.90 per proof liter (table A-31).
34

Likewise, bottled rum was valued at $1.80 per proof liter compared to bulk rum shipments

averaging under $1 per proof liter. Liqueurs and cordials have a relatively low ratio of alcohol

content to volume; consequently, per unit export values are high, averaging $6.30 per proof

liter in 1999.

Export levels and trends

Exports of distilled spirits, excluding alcoholic preparations, rose by 10.4 percent in value

during 1995-99, while the total volume of shipments increased by nearly 14 percent. Whiskies

posted overall strong export growth, rising 44 percent in value, with shipments of the leading

export category, bottled bourbon (including Tennessee whiskey), increasing by over 20

percent (table A-31). The volume of bourbon exports increased steadily, with bottled product

shipments rising by 33 percent and bulk shipments rising by 6 percent. Exports of rum more

than doubled in value during the period, driven by increased shipments of bulk product to

Canada and The Bahamas. Exports of liqueurs and cordials rose by 16 percent in value, but

remained unchanged in terms of volume during 1995-99. Shipments of brandy valued at $9.3

million in 1995 declined to $7.4 million in 1999 due to a 40-percent decline in export volume,

while exports of vodka declined by half in value and over 70 percent in volume during 1996-

99. Exports of gin increased to $3.7 million in 1999, with volume more than doubling during

the period (table A-31).

Principal export markets

The leading export markets for distilled spirits are summarized in table A-32, with export

markets for bottled and bulk whiskey presented in table A-33. Major export markets include

Japan, the EU, Australia, and U.S. NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico. Japan was the

leading destination for U.S. exports, accounting for 18 percent by value ($77.5 million) and

15 percent of volume (17.9 million proof liters) exported in 1999. In 1995, Japan imported

nearly twice the value of U.S. spirits as the second leading market, Germany, but weakness

in the Japanese economy led to a 17-percent decline in value during 1995-99 (table A-32).

Meanwhile, exports to Germany rose by 44 percent to $70 million, with growth in volume

rising 60 percent to 17 million proof liters of spirits during the period. Exports to Australia

($46 million) and Canada ($39 million) exhibited strong growth, rising by over 30 percent

each during the period, while shipments to the United Kingdom fell by 6 percent to $36

million. France, Spain, and Italy were the destinations for the highest valued exports of U.S.

spirits that increased by 60 percent or more in value, while the volume of shipments to these

countries rose by 74 percent during 1995-99.

Export markets for whiskey, consisting mainly of bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, track

closely with markets for all distilled spirits shipments (table A-33). For high-value bottled

whiskey, Germany was the leading market with $57 million in such shipments, displacing

Japan as the leading market in 1999. The United Kingdom was the third-leading market for

bottled and bulk shipments, with exports of both products declining during the period.

Australia was the fourth-largest export market for bottled whiskey ($22 million) and the

leading destination for bulk bourbon shipments ($22 million). Australia is the largest off-shore

bottler of U.S. bourbon, importing more than four times the value of whiskey in containers

of over 4 liters than any other country. In addition, the EU, Japan, and Canada imported bulk
 

100 Official Journal of the European Communities, L 278, vol. 42, Oct. 28 1999.

 

101 Customs Tariff Schedule of Canada, 1999.

 

102 Schedule of Mexico, North America Free-Trade Agreement, Annex 3021.2.

 

103 For 1999, Japan Tariff Association, Customs Tariffs for Japan 1999, Apr. 1999.

 

104 Tariff schedules posted by the APEC Secretariat, found at http://www.apectariff.org,

retrieved Apr. 27 2000.

 

105 International Customs Journal, China, No. 13, 7th ed. 1999.

 

106 Tariff schedules posted by the APEC Secretariat, found at http://www.apectariff.org,

retrieved Apr. 27 2000.

 

107 UNCTAD, TRAINS, 2000 (CD ROM).

 

108 “Customs Tariffs of India 1999-2000,” K.K. Bassi (New Delhi: Cen-Cus Publications,

2000 ), p. III-130.

 

109 For bottled spirits, UNCTAD, TRAINS, 2000 (CD ROM).

 

110 In addition, spirits are subject to consumption taxes ranging from 25 to 90 percent. ITA,

Vietnam, Market Research Report No. ISA980901. USDOC, 1999. 

35

whiskey, although exports did not exceed $6 million to any single country in these markets

(table A-33).

Foreign Trade Measures

Tariff measures

Tariff rates on most distilled spirits, including whiskies, gin, vodka, and liqueurs and cordials,

vary by country and trading group. Generally, duty rates imposed by developed nations are

lower than rates imposed by developing nations. Table A-34 provides tariff levels for major

U.S. trading partners. For the leading U.S. export markets, tariff rates on spirits are duty free

or relatively low. The EU, the largest U.S. trading partner, does not levy duties on most

spirits. Similar to the United States, the EU offers duty-free rates on an MFN basis to all

WTO members, except for rum which has duties ranging from 0.6 ECU/%vol./hl + 0-3

ECU/hl.100 Tariff rates for Canada101 and Mexico102 are applied at a preferential NAFTA rate

with U.S. shipments of spirits entering both countries duty free.

Applied tariff rates for Japan vary by spirit, with rates for certain whiskies, including bourbon, equaling 7.9

percent ad valorem.103 Australia applies compound rates on most spirits imports; for imports of

whiskey, Australia levies 5% plus $A32.10/liter of alcohol.104

Tariff rates for other large potential markets include China (65 percent ad valorem),105 Korea

(20 percent ad valorem),106 Russian Federation (2 ECU per liter of spirits),107 India (230

percent ad valorem),108 Brazil (23 percent ad valorem),109 and Vietnam (50 percent ad

valorem).110

Nontariff measures

Although high tariffs are the principal barrier restricting U.S. exports of distilled spirits,

nontariff barriers are also significant obstacles to market access, particularly for emerging

markets. Such barriers include state trading entities that limit imports and foreign
 

111 Written submission , DISCUS, received by facsimile transmission, May 3, 2000.

 

112 USDOC, ITA, “Turkey, Investment Climate Statement,”Market Research Report, No.

IMI990706, Jul. 6, 1999; USTR, “2000 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade

Barriers,” p. 402.

 

113 Written submission, DISCUS.

 

114 Ibid.

 

115 USTR, p. 352.

 

116 Ibid., p.169.

 

117 Written submission, DISCUS.

 

118 Ibid.

36

 participation, quantitative restrictions that suppress imports, and licensing requirements that

cause inefficiency and delay for U.S. traders of spirits.

State trading entities

In Canada, “listing” practices, whereby provincial liquor control boards (LCBs) limit the

number of imported products that retailers can carry at any one time, restrict retailers from

stocking new and niche product imports. According to DISCUS this serves to “insulate

Canadian distilled spirits producers from the full force of import competition.”111 In Turkey,

the government monopoly, TEKEL, controls the production of all alcoholic beverages and

prohibits foreign participation in the domestic industry. Moreover, TEKEL is the sole

importer of most distilled spirits into Turkey with the exception of whiskies.112

Licensing requirements

Import permits are required to import spirits into Turkey, and U.S. exporters have noted that

obtaining these permits is burdensome because the rules and regulations for obtaining such

permits are nontransparent. In addition, Turkey requires other certification documents that

require approval from various government authorities which reportedly cause delays.113

Indonesia requires licenses to import spirits, but has granted only two companies such licenses

since 1983.114 Russia also maintains a “burdensome” import regime and requires import

licenses for the importation of ethyl alcohol and vodka.115

Quantitative restrictions

Although Indonesia has committed to phasing out quantitative import restrictions, distilled

spirits are still subject to import limits. Moreover, most imports of spirits are allocated to

duty-free stores which further restrict access to the domestic market.116 Vietnam imports

spirits under a quota system that grants quota licences to “official” importers each year;

foreign companies are excluded from obtaining these quota licenses. According to USTR,

Russia restricts imports of alcoholic beverages to 10 percent of total Russian alcohol sales;

however, 60 percent of these imports must contain 15 percent or less alcohol.117 As most

distilled spirits (including bourbon, rum, and vodka), contain about 40 percent alcohol by

volume the effective rate of imports allowed totals only about 4 percent of domestic sales

according to DISCUS.118
 

119 Includes intra-EU trade.

37

FOREIGN INDUSTRY PROFILE

Overview of World Market

Distilled spirits are produced and consumed in most countries of the world. Total world

production data are not readily available, but estimates of the relative quantities of production

during the 1990s for the leading producing countries are listed in table A-7. For individual

countries, China is the leading manufacturer of spiritous beverages with over 11 million

hectoliters (hl) of pure alcohol (300 million gallons), followed by Russia with nearly half of

China’s estimated production, 5.5 million hl (144 million gallons). The United States with 5

million hl (132 million gallons) is the third-leading producer. The United Kingdom is the

leading producer in the EU and the fourth-largest world producer, with production of

4.9 million hl (129 million gallons), followed by Brazil producing 3.9 million hl (102 million

gallons) and Japan with 3 million hl (80 million gallons).

The leading producers are also the world’s leading consumers. Most spirits production is

consumed locally so that the leading world producers are not necessarily leading world

exporters and importers. Trade in spirits, composed mainly of high quality and high value

spirits, is conducted primarily among the developed nations of the OECD, particularly by

countries in Europe, North America and parts of Asia. The most recent world trade data

collected by the United Nations Statistical Office indicates that the countries of the EU (with

exports valued at over $7 billion119) were the leading and dominant world exporters in 1998,

with shipments amounting to more than 18 times the value of the second- and third-largest

exporters Canada ($394 million) and the United States ($385 million) (table A-26). World

data on per capita rates of consumption track closely with production. The highest

consumption rates were recorded by Russia and certain Eastern European countries, China,

Thailand, and some members of the EU. Per capita consumption rates by country are provided

in table A-35. 

Country Profiles

European Union

EU member countries combined are the world’s leading producers of distilled spirits with

production of spirits representing over 11 million hl of pure ethyl alcohol. Production

estimates vary by country with the United Kingdom producing 4.9 million hl of pure alcohol,

Germany 1.8 million hl, France 1.4 million hl, Italy 1 million hl, Spain 802 thousand hl, and

Greece 215 thousand hl (table A-7). These 6 EU countries rank among the top 20 world

producers. The leading EU producers include the United Kingdom, the largest EU producer

of whiskey, (but also manufactures gin and vodka), Germany, producer of vodka, gin, brandy,
 

120 European Commission, Panorama of EU Industry 97 (Luxembourg: Office for Official

Publications of the European Commission, 1997), p. 3-115.

 

121 Ibid.

 

122 Ibid., p. 3-117.

 

123 Other estimates value actual imports at $500 million yearly. Team Canada Research

Center, “The Alcoholic Beverages Market in China,” Jan. 1998, found at

http://atn-riae.agr.ca/public/htmldocs/e1975.htm, retrieved Apr. 11, 2000.

 

124 Team Canada Research Center, “The Alcoholic Beverages Market in China,” Jan. 1998,

found at http://atn-riae.agr.ca/public/htmldocs/e1975.htm, retrieved Apr.11, 2000.

 

125 Ibid.

 

126 USTR, China Trade Relations Working Group, Distilled Spirits, Beer & Wine, found at

http://www.chinapntr.gov, retrieved May 8, 2000.

 

127 “Holding Pattern,” Wine & Spirit International, June 1999, pp. 89-90.

38

and liqueurs, France, the largest producer of brandy and aniseed spirits, and a leading

producer of liqueurs, and Italy and Spain producers of mainly brandy and liqueurs.120

Consumption of distilled spirits has been declining in the EU, resulting from forces similar to

those that have depressed U.S. consumption, including life-style changes and health

consciousness among consumers, taxation policies, and government programs designed to

discourage alcohol abuse.121 This phenomenon is reflected by declining rates of per capita

consumption. Only 2 out of 15 EU-member countries recorded positive increases in

consumption rates during 1995-98 (table A-35). Resulting from declining rates of

consumption, EU distillers are rationalizing their product portfolios, aggressively marketing

core product lines, and expanding marketing efforts in Asia and Latin America.122

China

China, with production of over 11 million hl of pure alcohol, is the world’s largest national

producer and consumer of distilled spirits; imports, valued at $10 million according to U.N.

data,123 account for only a fraction of total consumption. The Chinese market for spiritous

beverages is regionally segmented with very few nationally recognized brands.124 Distilled

spirits are produced at an estimated 35,000-40,000 distilleries that produce mostly “white”

spirits (imports are designated as “red” spirits).125 Distilled spirits are the largest segment of

the alcoholic beverages market in China with rates of consumption of 3.0 liters of pure alcohol

(lpa) among the highest in Asia (table A-35).

Market growth for spirits is expected to continue with expansion of the economy and

liberalization of duties and nontariff barriers. Negotiations between the United States and

China on permanent NTR and accession to the WTO have yielded agreements to lower tariffs

on “U.S. priority exports” (whiskies, rum, vodka, liqueurs) from the current rate levied by

China of 65 percent to 10 percent in 2005; in addition, quotas and licenses would be abolished

upon accession.126 Problems with infrastructure, distribution channels, and traditional business

practices, however, are expected to constrain development of the Chinese spirits market.127
 

128 Sergey Minko, “Trade Opportunities for U.S. Bottling, Packaging, And Labeling

Companies In The Russian Hard Liquor Market,” USDOC, 1999. Found at

http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/isa/9902PACK.HTM, retrieved May 12, 2000.

 

129 Ibid.

 

130 Ibid.

 

131 Mery Galanternick, “Poor Man’s Champagne,” Latin Trade, Feb. 2000. p. 36.

 

132 Ibid.

 

133 Calculated by the Commission using data from USDA, FAS.

39

Russia

Russia is the world’s second-largest producer of spirits, with production of 5.5 million hl of

pure alcohol consisting mainly of vodka (table A-7). According to some estimates, nontaxed

counterfeit and home-distilled spirits account for as much as 75 percent of Russian

production. The Russian Government operates 116 spirits plants out of 184 legally licensed

production facilities and owns a minority share in 26 others. In 1998, the government, seeking

to restore historically important alcohol tax revenues, pledged to renew oversight of the

production and sale of distilled spirits (for spiritous beverages of over 40 percent alcohol).128

Part of the Russian Government’s policy has been to augment revenue through increased taxes

on spirits; however, this has led to a decrease in domestic demand and resulted in falling

volumes for the three leading domestic producers Stolichnaya, Moskovaskaya, and

Russkaya.129 Russia’s debt crisis in the mid 1990's led to economic contraction, causing

imports to substantially drop, as Russian consumers shifted demand to domestically-produced

spirits including illegal products.130 High taxes and economic weakness have also led to a

decline in per capita consumption during 1995-98, although Russia remains the world’s leader

with 6.0 lpa consumed per person in 1998 (table A-35).

Brazil

Brazil is a leading producer and consumer of spirits, with yearly production amounting to

3.9 million hl of pure alcohol. Cachaca, an 80 proof spirit fermented and distilled from

molasses derived from sugar cane, is the most widely produced distilled liquor in Brazil. With

annual production estimated at 345 million gallons, cachaca ranks among the world’s leading

spirits produced by volume.131 Most cachaca is consumed domestically, with exports

accounting for only about 1 percent of production.132 Per capita consumption of spirits in

Brazil remained steady at 1.5 lpa during 1995-98 ranking it in the middle of Central and South

American countries (table A-35). According to the U.N. Statistical Office, Brazilian imports

of spirits expanded from $47 million in 1995 to $71 million in 1998, with 89 percent of such

exports supplied by the EU and composed mainly of whiskey (table A-25).133

Japan

Japan, with estimated production of over 3 million hl of pure alcohol (table A-7), is a leading

world producer of Shochu, a white spirit produced from various materials, including grains,
 

134 Both distillation methods use malted rice for fermentation. Brown, p. 252.

 

135 Figure may include some soju imports from Korea.

 

136 Calculated by the Commission using data from Impact, vol. 29, No. 10, May 15, 1999.

 

137 Produced in Korea, it is similar to shochu.

 

138 Impact, “Japanese Spirits Market, Amidst Major Change, Still Awaits Upturn, vol. 29,

No.10, May 15, 1999, p. 15.

 

139 “All about Canada’s alcoholic beverage industry...” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,

found at http://www.agr.ca/cb/factsheets/alce.html, retrieved Apr. 11, 2000.

 

140 Ibid.

 

141 Ibid.

 

142 Calculated by the Commission using data from the FAS Global database and the U.N.

Statistical Office.

 

143 FAS Global database using data from the U.N. Statistical Office.

40

potatoes, and rice.134 Japan also produces malt (Scotch style) and grain whiskies. In 1998,

Japanese shipments of domestically produced distilled spirits totaled approximately 287

million gallons, of which Shochu135 accounted for 63 percent of production (180 million

gallons), whiskey 10 percent (28 million gallons), and other local spirits 27 percent (78 million

gallons).136

Japan is the world’s second-leading importer of spirits after the United States. Principal

suppliers include the EU, the United States, and Korea, which principally supply whiskey,

brandy and Soju.137 During 1995-98, imports declined by 30 percent in value from almost

$1.2 billion in 1995 to $824 million in 1998, owing to underlying weakness in the Japanese

economy (table A-25). Three factors have influenced the Japanese distilled spirits market

during the period of reduced imports: (1) the depressed economy has forced consumers to

purchase less expensive domestically-produced brands, (2) younger Japanese consumers are

switching to lower proof spirits such as shochu, and (3) a tax reduction initiated in 1997 to

harmonize rates between shochu and other spirits, including imported whiskey, has given a

boost to the domestic whiskey industry that has aggressively marketed its lower priced

brands.138 Per capita consumption in Japan, one of the highest rates in Asia, was stable during

1995-98 averaging 2.25 lpa (table A-35).

Canada

Distilled spirits production in Canada amounted to C$997 in 1997 with volume estimated at

over 1 million hl of ethyl alcohol.139 “Canadian whisky,” distilled from rye and corn, accounts

for about 40 percent of Canadian production with the balance of spirits products composed

of vodka, gin, rum, brandy, liqueurs, spirit coolers, and ethyl alcohol.140 Similar to the U.S.

industry, the Canadian industry is highly concentrated with 3 of Canada’s 13 distillers

accounting for 80 percent of production. These large producers are subsidiaries of

multinational corporations that are strongly focused on export markets. 

Canadian exports, accounting for over half of domestic shipments,141 totaled $394 million in

1998, most of which (95 percent) consisted of Canadian whiskey. The United States is

Canada’s largest export market accounting for 88 percent of exports in 1998, primarily

bottled and bulk whiskey.142 Canadian imports amounted to $203 million in 1998, with the EU

supplying over 65 percent of shipments that included liqueurs, whiskey, and brandy.143 Per
 

144 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, “The Canadian Distillery Industry,” found at

http://aceis.agr.ca/food/facts/e_profile/distillery/dist-pro.html, retrieved May 11, 2000.

 

145 In 1998, Mexican spirits consumption was estimated at brandy,-32 percent, rum-,28

percent, tequila,-27 percent, and all other spirits,-13 percent. “Mexican Spirits Market Faces

Difficulty, Despite Tequila’s Rise,” Impact, vol. 29, No. 7, Apr. 1, 1999, p. 3.

 

146 Ibid., and USDOC, ITA, “Mexico, Distilled Spirits Market Report,”No. ISA980301, 

Mar. 1, 1998, p. 2.

 

147 Ibid., p. 3

41

capita consumption in Canada remained relatively constant during 1995-98 amounting to 1.8

lpa in 1998 (table A-35). Increased health awareness by consumers, stricter laws for driving

under the influence, and higher prices all contributed to weakened demand.144

Mexico

With production of distilled spirits representing 659 thousand hl of pure alcohol, Mexico

ranks among the world’s top 15 manufacturers. Brandy and tequila are the principal spiritous

beverages produced. Although beer is the alcoholic beverage of choice for most Mexican

consumers, representing over 70 percent of the domestic market, spirits consisting of equal

shares of rum, brandy and tequila,145 account for 26 percent of the alcoholic consumption in

Mexico.146

Mexican imports, totaling $71.3 million in 1998, increased by more than 8 percent during

1995-98, despite underlying weakness in the Mexican economy (table A-25). Mexican

exports, however, expanded by 35 percent during the period, to over $242 million, fueled by

strong export demand for tequila, which accounted for approximately 83 percent of exports

in 1998 (table A-26).

Per capita consumption in Mexico was stable at 0.7 lpa during 1995-98, though less than half

the rate for NAFTA partners the United States (1.9 lpa) and Canada (1.8) (table A-35). High

domestic taxes and a weakened economy still recovering from the currency crisis of the mid

1990s have dampened domestic demand forcing domestic producers to focus on export

markets. A significant portion (nearly 30 percent) of Mexican spirits production was shipped

to foreign markets, with the trend expected to increase, given the strong demand for tequila

in North American and European markets.147

APPENDIX A

STATISTICAL TABLES
A-2

Table A-1

Distilled spirits plants: Number of companies, employees, and establishments1

Year Companies

Employees

(1,000)

 

Establishments with 20

or more employees Total establishments

1977 ............... 64 15.7 77 104

1982 ............... 71 12.2 75 104

1987 ............... 48 9.0 57 72

1992 ............... 43 7.1 48 65

1997 ............... 44 6.5 42 60

Percentage change:

77/97 ............. -31.3 -58.6 -45.5 -42.3

1 Except brandy.

Source: DOC, Census of Manufactures, Beverages, 1987, 1992, and Census of Manufacturers, Distilleries, 1997.

Table A-2

Distilled spirits: Number of U.S. companies producing selected bottled spirits1

Item 1987 1992 1997

Percentage

 change 

87/97

–––––––– Number of companies ––––––––

Whiskies:

Unprocessed whiskey ...... 10 7 8 -20.0

Blends of whiskey ......... 12 11 8 -33.3

Blends with neutral spirits ... 18 12 8 -55.6

Other whiskey ............ 23 16 13 -43.5

Gin ...................... 26 16 12 -53.8

Cordials, liqueurs ............ 23 17 14 -39.1

Vodka .................... 29 19 15 -48.3

Rum ..................... 18 17 9 -50.0

Other bottled liquors ......... 20 17 13 -35.0

1

 With shipments of $100,000 or more.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
A-3

Table A-3

Distilled spirits: Geographic distribution of licensed distilled spirits plants by State, 1999

State Number of DSPs

Arkansas ......................................... 1

California ......................................... 26

Connecticut ....................................... 3

Florida ........................................... 2

Georgia .......................................... 2

Hawaii ........................................... 1

Illinois ........................................... 2

Indiana .......................................... 1

Kentucky ......................................... 13

Louisiana ......................................... 2

Massachusetts ..................................... 1

Maryland ......................................... 2

Michigan ......................................... 3

Minnesota ........................................ 1

Missouri .......................................... 1

Montana ......................................... 1

New Jersey ....................................... 3

New York ......................................... 7

Ohio ............................................ 2

Oregon .......................................... 5

Pennsylvania ...................................... 1

Tennessee ........................................ 3

Texas ........................................... 1

Virginia .......................................... 1

Washington ....................................... 2

West Virginia ...................................... 1

Source: Compiled by USITC staff using data from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Table A-4

U.S. distilled spirits: Number of employees, payroll, manhours, wages, and value of shipments,

1993-97

All employees Production workers 

Value of

production Item/year Number Payroll Number

Production

hours

Hourly

wage Wages

1,000

persons

Million

dollars

1,000

persons Million

Dollars

per hour –— Million dollars —

Distilled sprits and 

blended liquors:

 1997 .............. 6.5 252.4 4.6 9.7 16.3 158.4 3,904.8

 1996 .............. 6.6 242.2 4.7 9.8 16.1 157.5 3,672.9

1995 .............. 6.9 240.9 4.9 10.0 15.6 155.9 3,826.9

 1994 .............. 6.6 240.1 4.7 10.1 15.4 155.8 3,887.5

1993 .............. 7.1 245.1 5.1 10.4 15.5 161.1 3,568.8

Source: U.S. DOC, Annual Survey of Manufactures, Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries, 1993-96
A-4

Table A-5

Distilled spirits: Price indexes, 1995-99

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998 19991

Percentage

change

1995/1999

––––––––––– Price indicator ––––––––––

Producer price index:

Distilled and blended liquors2............. 145.0 149.1 152.0 152.3 149.5 3.1

Bottled Liquor, except brandy2............ 147.3 150.1 153.3 154.0 155.7 5.7

 Whiskey, including bottled in bond3........ 115.8 119.4 123.2 123.5 125.8 8.6

 Vodka2.............................. 144.7 147.8 151.2 153.6 154.2 6.6

 Liqueurs and cordials2................. 157.1 159.2 161.8 163.0 160.5 2.2

 Gin2................................ 151.8 153.7 158.7 159.3 160.8 5.9

 Other bottled liquors, except brandy3....... 121.5 121.6 121.7 121.2 124.7 2.6

Consumer price index:

Distilled spirits at home 4................ 145.7 147.5 150.8 152.7 156.2 7.2

Distilled spirits away from home 5......... (

6

) (

6

) (

6

) 101.3 103.9 (

6

)

Distilled spirits, excluding whiskey, at home 4 145.5 147.1 150.6 152.6 156.3 7.4

Whiskey at home 4..................... 145.0 147.3 150.8 152.2 155.5 7.2

Alcoholic beverages 4................... 153.9 158.5 162.8 165.7 169.7 10.3

Alcoholic beverages at home 4............ 143.1 146.8 149.5 150.6 153.7 7.4

Alcoholic beverages away from home 4..... 176.5 182.7 189.4 195.0 201.0 13.9

1 Producer price index values for 1999 are preliminary estimates and subject to revision.

2

 Base date, June 1983 = 100.

3

 Base date, June 1990 = 100.

4 Base date, 1982-84 = 100.

5

 Base date, Dec. 1990 = 100.

6 Not applicable.

Source: Producer Price Index Revision -Current Series, Consumer Price Index -All Urban Consumers, Bureau of

Labor Statistics.

Table A-6

Distilled spirits: U.S. Federal tax collections1 on distilled spirits, beer and wine, 1996-99

(Million dollars)

Distilled spirits

Item/fiscal year2 Domestic Imported Total Beer Wine

1999 ..................... 2,925.7 758.7 3,684.4 3,374.3 653.5

1998 ..................... 2,857.4 682.3 3,539.7 3,420.5 634.1

1997 ..................... 2,927.5 687.2 3,614.7 3,387.9 639.3

1996 ..................... 2,938.3 668.8 3,607.1 3,355.3 619.9

Percentage change 96/99 ..... -0.4 13.4 2.1 0.6 5.4

1 Collection figures correspond to tax assessments, and are subject to revision. Totals may differ from

statistics in B.A.T.F. Chief Financial Officer Annual Reports. 

2 Fiscal year Oct. 1-Sept. 31.

Source: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
A-5

Table A-7

Distilled spirits: Major world producers relative magnitude of spirits production1

Country (Thousand hectoliters pure alcohol) Year

China2........................... 11,088 1995

Russia3.......................... 5,465 1992

United States2..................... 5,005 1997

United Kingdom3................... 4,876 1996

Brazil2........................... 3,880 1994

Japan3........................... 3,024 1997

Ukraine3.......................... 2,660 1997

Germany3........................ 1,829 1996

France2.......................... 1,443 1995

Canada3......................... 1,257 1993/94

Italy2............................ 1,000 1995

Hungary3......................... 986 1995

Czech Republic3................... 900 1995

Spain3........................... 802 1994

Mexico2

.......................... 659 1995

Poland3.......................... 603 1996

Netherlands3...................... 311 1997

Argentina3........................ 270 1995

Australia3......................... 246 1995/96

Greece2.......................... 215 1993

Chile3............................ 207 1996

Cuba3........................... 206 1995

Slovak Republic3................... 168 1997

Finland3.......................... 166 1997

Denmark3........................ 142 1996

Switzerland2....................... 124 1995

Belgium2......................... 116 1998

Latvia3........................... 85 1998

Republic of Ireland2................. 82 1990

Romania3........................ 80 1996

Portugal3......................... 80 1990

1

 Detailed annual statistics on production of spirits in most countries are not available. Rankings compiled by

World Drink Trends 1999, display the relative magnitude of major world producers of spirits and are based on

production data, or, if not available, sales estimates are used to approximate production. These estimates are

derived from the latest available annual data as denoted in the table.

2

 Sales estimate.

3

 Production estimate.

Source: NTC Publications Ltd., Productschap voor Gedistilleerde Dranken, World Drink Trends 1999, p. 142.

Table A-8

Alcoholic beverages: U.S. domestic per capita consumption and total consumption, 1993-97

Item 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

Percentage change

1993/1997

–––––––––––––––– Gallons ––––––––––––––––

Per capita ..................... 1.31 1.28 1.24 1.25 1.23 -6.11

Adult per capita1................ 1.88 1.84 1.78 1.78 1.76 -6.38

Total (million) ................... 342.70 334.50 326.70 330.50 329.90 -3.74

1 Consumers over 21 years old. 

Source: Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook, 1998.
A-6

Table A-9

Distilled spirits: Conversion factors

1 Wine gallon = Tax gallon = 128 fluid ounces regardless of alcohol content

1 Wine gallon = 3.785 liters; one 9-liter case = 2.378 gallons

Proof is 2x the percentage amount of alcohol by volume. For example, an 80 proof bourbon is 40 percent alcohol by

volume

1 Proof gallon = 128 fluid ounces containing 50 percent ethyl alcohol by volume (100 proof)

Metric conversions for distilled spirits

Metric measures Ounces Bottles per case Liters per case

9-liter case

conversion factor1

1.75 liters (L) ............... 59.2 6 10.5 1.17

1 liter (L) .................. 33.8 12 12.0 1.33

750 milliliters (ml) ........... 25.4 12 9.0 1.00

Distilled spirits: Proof gallon conversion factors to wine gallon and 9-liter cases2

Spirit category (1 proof gallon) To wine gallons To 9-liter cases

Straight whiskey .......................................... 0.823 1.956

Blended whiskey .......................................... 0.805 1.913

Canadian whiskey ......................................... 0.800 1.902

Scotch whiskey ........................................... 0.817 1.941

Irish whiskey ............................................. 0.800 1.902

Gin .................................................... 0.826 1.963

Vodka .................................................. 0.810 1.926

Rum ................................................... 0.798 1.896

Tequila ................................................. 0.800 1.902

Brandy .................................................. 0.799 1.898

Liqueurs and cordials ....................................... 0.542 1.289

Prepared cocktails ......................................... 0.139 0.329

1

 Indicates number of 9-liter cases per actual case.

2

 To convert from proof gallons to wine gallons or 9-liter cases, divide by the conversion factor. To convert from

wine gallons or 9-liter cases to proof gallons multiply by the conversion factor.

Source: Adams Business Media, BATF, DISCUS.
A-7

Table A-10

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption by category and type, 1995-98

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998

Percentage

change

1995/1998

–––––––––– (Million 9 liter cases) ––––––––––

Whiskey:

Canadian ..................... 16.0 15.9 15.6 15.1 -5.6

 Bourbon ...................... 13.4 13.1 12.9 13.0 -3.0

 Scotch ....................... 8.9 8.8 8.6 8.3 -6.7

 American blended ............... 7.1 6.8 6.5 6.2 -12.7

 Irish ......................... 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0

 Total ...................... 45.6 44.8 43.7 42.7 -6.4

White spirits:

Vodka ........................ 34.6 34.6 34.7 35.1 1.4

 Rum ......................... 11.4 11.7 12.2 13.0 14.0

 Gin .......................... 11.6 11.3 11.0 10.8 -6.9

 Tequila ....................... 5.2 5.7 6.1 6.5 25.0

 Total ..................... 62.8 63.3 63.9 65.3 4.0

Cordials and liqueurs ............... 16.4 16.6 16.9 17.3 5.5

Brandy/Cognac ................... 7.9 8.3 8.6 8.9 12.7

Cocktails and mixed drinks .......... 3.1 3.6 3.9 4.0 29.0

Total specialty spirits ........... 27.4 28.5 29.3 30.1 9.9

Total distilled spirits ................ 135.8 136.6 136.9 138.1 1.7

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Aug. 15 1999, p. 10. Consumption data may differ

from table A-16 (U.S.-produced and imported spirits consumption), as data originates from different sources.

Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.

Table A-11

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic beverages by

gender, 1998

(Percentage)

Gender Distilled spirits All alcoholic beverages

Male ............................. 62.6 79.5

Female ........................... 37.4 20.5

Total ......................... 100.0 100.0

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Sept. 1, 1999, p. 16.

Table A-12

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic beverages by age,

1998

(Percentage)

Age group Distilled spirits All alcoholic beverages

Under 20 ............................... 0.1 0.2

20-29 .................................. 7.3 16.3

30-39 .................................. 27.9 29.2

40-49 .................................. 18.4 25.5

50-59 .................................. 12.9 13.2

60 and over ............................. 33.4 15.6

Total ............................... 100.0 100.0

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Sept. 1, 1999, p. 16.
A-8

Table A-13

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic beverages by category

and age, 1998

(Percentage)

Category/age 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 and over Total

Distilled spirits ......... 7.3 27.9 18.4 12.9 33.4 100.0

 Bourbon ............. 12.2 19.5 24.3 12.3 31.7 100.0

 Scotch .............. - 1.6 12.1 4.8 81.4 100.0

 Vodka .............. 4.8 40.4 12.6 17.4 24.8 100.0

 Gin ................ 2.1 31.7 21.3 9.7 35.2 100.0

 Tequila ............. 14.3 44.2 15.2 17.8 8.5 100.0

Beer ................ 18.1 30.0 26.9 12.1 12.7 100.0

 Regular beer ......... 14.6 29.1 30.8 10.3 15.0 100.0

 Light beer ........... 22.1 31.0 22.4 14.3 10.1 100.0

 Ale/malt liquor 12.4 53.9 10.2 16.1 7.1 100.0

Wine ................ 8.8 18.3 24.2 20.2 27.9 100.0

 Red ................ 0.9 19.5 32.1 16.5 30.7 100.0

 White ............... 14.8 11.9 31.6 20.6 20.9 100.0

 Blush ............... 5.0 22.3 15.2 25.0 32.4 100.0

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Sept. 1, 1999, p. 17. Figures may not add to totals

shown due to rounding.

Table A-14

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic beverages by region,

1998

(Percentage)

Region Distilled spirits All alcoholic beverages

Northeast .................................. 17.5 29.7

North Central ............................... 20.9 20.3

South ..................................... 29.1 30.4

West ..................................... 32.5 19.6

Total .................................. 100.0 100.0

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Sept. 1, 1999, p. 18.

Table A-15

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic consumption of spirits and all alcoholic beverages by

household income, 1998

(Percentage)

Household income Distilled spirits All alcoholic beverages

Under $15,000 .............................. 8.7 11.5

$15,000 - $24,999 ........................... 11.8 10.7

$25,000 - $34,999 ........................... 12.3 7.3

$35,000 - $44,999 ........................... 21.2 21.2

$45,000 - $59,999 ........................... 14.0 24.1

$60,000 and over ............................ 32.0 25.2

Total .................................. 100.0 100.0

Source: M. Shanken Communications Inc., Impact, vol. 29, Sept. 1, 1999, p. 20.
A-9

Table A-16

Distilled spirits: U.S. consumption of U.S.-produced and imported spirits by category, 1996-98

Category 1996 1997 1998

Percentage 

change

1996-981

–––––––––––– Million 9-liter cases ––––––––––––

Whiskey:

Straight ............................ 13.1 13.0 13.2 0.8

Blended ............................ 6.6 6.3 6.0 -9.1

Total American whiskey ............ 19.7 19.3 19.2 -2.5

Canadian bulk ....................... 10.3 10.0 9.7 -5.8

Canadian bottled ..................... 6.1 6.0 6.1 0.0

 Total Canadian ................... 16.4 16.0 15.8 -3.7

Scotch bulk ......................... 3.7 3.5 3.3 -10.8

Scotch blends bottled ................. 5.7 5.6 5.5 -3.5

Scotch single malts ................... 0.5 0.6 0.6 20.0

 Total Scotch ..................... 9.9 9.7 9.4 -5.1

Irish and other ....................... 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0

Total imported whiskey ................ 26.5 26.0 25.6 -3.4

Total American whiskey ............... 19.7 19.3 19.2 -2.5

 Total whiskey .................... 46.2 45.3 44.9 -2.8

Vodka:

Domestic ........................... 27.9 27.2 28.0 0.4

Imported ........................... 5.1 5.7 6.0 17.6

 Total ........................... 33.0 32.9 34.1 3.3

Gin:

Domestic ........................... (

2

) 8.8 8.5 -3.4

Imported ........................... (

2

) 2.6 2.6 0.0

 Total ........................... 11.7 11.4 11.2 -4.3

Brandy & Cognac:

Domestic brandy ..................... 4.7 4.9 4.9 4.2

Imported brandy ..................... 0.8 0.6 0.7 -12.5

Cognac ............................ 2.0 2.2 2.4 20.0

 Total ........................... 7.5 7.7 8.0 6.7

Cordials & Liqueurs:

Domestic ........................... (

2

) 8.9 9.1 2.2

Imported ........................... (

2

) 7.1 7.0 -1.4

 Total ........................... 16.0 16.0 16.2 1.3

Rum:

Total .............................. 13.0 13.5 14.0 7.7

Tequila:

Total .............................. 5.6 6.0 6.3 12.5

Prepared cocktails:

Total .............................. 5.8 5.9 5.9 1.7

Total non-whiskey ....................... 92.6 93.4 95.7 3.3

Total domestic spirits .................... (

2

) 87.5 88.8 1.5

Total imported spirits .................... (

2

) 51.2 51.8 1.2

Total distilled spirits ..................... 138.8 138.7 140.6 1.3

1

 Where 1996 not comparable, percentage change 1997-98.

2

 Data not comparable for 1996-98. 

Source: Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook, 1998 and 1999. Consumption data may differ from table A-10 (U.S. consumption of

domestic spirits), as data originates from different sources. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-10

Table A-17

Distilled spirits: Value of product shipments and selected inputs1

(Million dollars)

Item 1987 1992 1997

Distilleries primary products2............... 3,187.8 3,255.5 3,391.2

Deflated value3......................... 3,010.2 2,411.5 2,231.0

Bottled liquor ........................... 2,664.8 2,584.0 2,621.7

Deflated value3......................... 2,516.3 1,914.1 1,724.8

Inputs:

Corn ................................ (

4

) 41.1 37.3

Other grains (rye, barley, etc.) ............ (

4

) (

4

) 9.5

Malt ................................ (

4

) 8.0 8.4

Cooperage ........................... (

4

) 39.1 46.3

Paperboard boxes and containers, etc ...... (

4

) 23.5 23.4

Plastic containers ...................... (

4

) 26.5 63.0

Glass containers ...................... (

4

) 313.3 337.6

1

 Except brandy.

2 NAICS used for distilled spirits in 1997 directly corresponds to SIC used in previous years.

3

 Nominal prices deflated using Producer Price Index for “Distilled and blended liquors,” base date, June 1983.

Department of Labor Statistics data, found at http://146.142.4.24/cgi-bin/dsrv, retrieved Apr. 14, 2000.

4 Not available or not comparable.

Source: DOC, Census of Manufactures 1997.
A-11

Table A-18

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic production of selected bottled spirits

1987 1992 1997

Item Quantity Value

Deflated

value1 Quantity Value

Deflated

value1 Quantity Value

Deflated

value1

Million

gallons Million dollars

Million

gallons Million dollars

Million

gallons Million dollars

Whiskies:

 Unprocessed whisky ........ 23.3 364.7 344.4 27.4 342.7 253.9 46.0 650.9 428.2

 Blends without neutral spirits . . 18.2 176.6 166.8 23.7 222.2 164.6 4.4 110.7 72.8

 Blends with neutral spirits .... 9.3 76.2 72.0 8.0 70.4 52.1 6.5 47.9 31.5

 Other whiskey ............. 47.9 514.7 486.0 36.4 419.9 311.0 27.7 309.6 203.7

Total whiskey ................ 98.7 1,132.2 1,069.2 95.5 1,055.2 781.6 84.6 1,119.1 736.2

Gin ....................... 25.8 155.0 146.4 33.9 182.5 135.2 13.2 67.7 44.5

Cordials, liqueurs ............. 38.5 429.5 405.6 39.8 407.5 301.9 28.4 431.6 283.9

Vodka ..................... 71.0 341.0 322.0 81.7 351.7 260.5 33.6 382.8 251.8

Other bottled liquors:2

 Rum ..................... 9.0 55.6 52.5 9.9 55.8 41.3 (

3

) 95.3 62.7

 Other-excluding bottled in bond . 13.5 119.3 112.7 11.8 113.5 84.1 14.3 142.1 93.5

 Other-bottled in bond ........ (

3

) 307.2 290.1 (

4

) (

4

) (

4

) (

3

) 147.6 97.1

1

 Nominal prices deflated using Producer Price Index for “Distilled and blended liquors,” base date, June 1983. Bureau of Labor Statistics data,

found at http://146.142.4.24/cgi-bin/dsrv, retrieved Apr. 14, 2000.

2

 Except brandy. 

3

 Not available.

4

 Withheld to avoid disclosing data of individual companies.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
A-12

Table A-19

Distilled spirits: Production by volume1, 1993-96

(Million proof gallons)

Item 1993 1994 1995 19962

Whiskey 160 proof and under .............. 54.6 55.2 64.3 50.0

Whiskey over 160 proof ................... 4.5 3.5 4.8 0.0

Brandy 170 proof and under ................ 10.6 9.2 2.0 7.9

Brandy over 170 proof .................... 2.2 2.9 2.2 2.1

Rum ................................. 1.8 1.7 1.2 0.7

Gin .................................. 13.3 13.5 14.7 9.7

Vodka ................................ 4.0 0.9 (

3

) (

3

)

Alcohol and spirits 190 proof and over ........ 1,313.8 1,388.3 1,447.4 1,000.3

Alcohol and spirits under 190 proof .......... 12.7 12.7 12.4 8.4

Total ............................... 1,417.9 1,487.1 1,548.8 1,079.2

1

 Fiscal year Oct. 1 - Sept. 30.

2 Nine months ending June 1996.

3

 Vodka included in Alcohol and spirits category after 1995.

Source: U.S. Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, statistical releases. Figures

may not add to totals shown due to rounding.

Table A-20

Distilled spirits: Grains used in production1, 1993-96

(Million pounds)

Item 1993 1994 1995 19962

Corn and corn products ................ 7,341.2 8,617.1 7,208.3 6,393.4

Rye and rye products .................. 72.1 69.1 80.9 80.0

Malt and malt products ................ 63.4 70.4 80.5 61.5

Wheat and wheat products ............. 345.6 548.1 316.4 148.8

Sorghum grain & sorghum grain products . . 247.5 256.9 196.5 325.5

Other grain products .................. 88.7 1.5 4.4 3.9

Total grain products ................. 8,158.5 9,564.2 7,886.9 7,013.2

1

 Fiscal years Oct. 1 - Sept. 30.

2

 Nine months ending June 1996.

 

Source: U.S. Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, statistical releases. Figures may

not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-13

Table A-21

Distilled spirits: Percent production capacity utilization rates for selected beverage industries,

1993-98

(Percent utilization)

Type 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Distilled and blended liquors ....... 81 76 66 65 65 63

Malt beverages ................. 75 79 76 76 75 82

Wines, brandy and brandy spirits .... 56 57 75 73 80 79

Bottled and canned soft drinks ...... 72 74 70 71 67 60

All beverages ................... 73 76 71 70 66 68

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Table A-22

Distilled spirits: Distillery establishment size by number of employees, 1997

Employee range No. of establishments Employees

1 to 4 .......................... 8 13

5 to 9 .......................... 7 41

10 to 19 ........................ 3 50

20 to 49 ........................ 9 265

50 to 99 ........................ 6 384

100 to 249 ...................... 18 2,743

250 to 499 ...................... 8 (

1

)

500 to 999 ...................... 1 (

1

)

Total ....................... 60 6,545

1

 Withheld to avoid disclosing data of individual companies, data included in totals.

Source: Department of Commerce, Census of Manufactures 1992,1997.

Table A-23

Distilled spirits: Geographic distribution of spirits production by State, 19961

(Million proof gallons)

State Whiskey Gin Brandy Rum Other2 Total

California ............ - - 9.1 - 17.6 26.6

Florida .............. (

3

) - 2.1 0.8 4.5 7.4

Illinois .............. - 1.9 - - 748.3 750.1

Indiana ............. 1.7 7.4 - - 14.9 24.1

Iowa ............... - 1.4 - - 393.6 395.0

Kentucky ............ 42.2 - - - 0.5 42.7

Michigan ............ - - - - 0.6 0.6

Minnesota ........... - - - - 5.1 5.1

Ohio ............... - - - - 1.0 1.0

Tennessee ........... 13.4 - - - 66.5 79.9

Texas .............. - - - - 43.8 43.8

Virginia ............. (

3

) - - - 0.8 0.8

All other ............. - 1.8 (

3

) - 78.8 80.6

Total ............. 57.4 12.5 11.2 0.8 1,375.9 1,457.8

1

 Twelve months ending June 1996.

2

 Includes ethyl alcohol, vodka, and spirits used for nonbeverage purposes.

3

 Less than 500,000 proof gallons.

Source: Adams Business Media, Liquor Handbook 1999, compiled from statistics of the Bureau of Alcohol,

Tobacco, and Firearms. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-14

Table A-24

Distilled spirits: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise, imports for consumption, and merchandise

trade balance, by selected countries and country groups, 1995-991

Market 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

 change

1995/1999

––––––––––––––––––– Million dollars –––––––––––––––––––––

U.S. exports of domestic merchandise:

United Kingdom ............................ 38.0 39.8 35.5 30.5 35.5 -6.6

France .................................... 13.9 16.7 12.9 15.4 22.9 64.7

Canada ................................... 28.9 34.1 43.3 39.9 38.5 33.2

Mexico .................................... 5.6 5.3 3.8 16.0 13.1 133.9

Sweden ................................... 1.4 1.7 1.3 1.0 1.5 7.1

Ireland .................................... 0.6 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.4 133.3

Japan .................................... 93.7 75.1 72.4 84.5 77.5 -17.3

Germany .................................. 48.7 53.6 57.5 50.2 70.3 44.4

Italy ...................................... 8.7 9.8 10.8 11.5 13.9 59.8

Russia .................................... 15.5 7.0 1.0 0.5 0.1 -99.4

All other ................................... 135.3 147.9 150.8 144.4 165.6 22.4

 Total .................................... 390.3 392.0 390.3 395.2 440.3 12.8

 OECD 324.8 331.1 335.8 345.7 385.1 18.6

 EU-15 ..................................... 148.1 159.6 156.1 147.4 190.5 28.6

 Eastern Europe ............................. 2.8 4.3 5.5 5.9 7.0 150.0

 Latin America ............................... 28.2 28.8 26.7 39.8 38.8 37.6

 Asia ...................................... 114.0 94.7 90.8 98.1 94.4 -17.2

U.S. imports for consumption:

United Kingdom ............................ 477.3 514.4 530.4 560.4 604.8 26.7

France .................................... 312.9 368.0 401.5 460.5 522.5 67.0

Canada ................................... 307.4 340.8 343.6 332.3 378.4 23.1

Mexico .................................... 113.0 135.2 154.0 161.5 210.0 85.8

Sweden ................................... 119.4 136.8 146.9 164.3 189.4 58.6

Ireland .................................... 99.3 121.1 134.7 131.7 145.9 46.9

Japan .................................... 0.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 100.0

Germany .................................. 34.4 35.7 31.7 32.6 38.0 10.5

Italy ...................................... 50.3 56.8 59.2 62.7 62.6 24.5

Russia .................................... 36.8 46.5 57.5 55.1 73.0 98.4

All other ................................... 78.1 86.9 107.8 123.7 157.3 101.4

Total .................................. 1,629.4 1,843.2 1,968.3 2,085.8 2,382.9 46.2

 OECD ..................................... 1,571.1 1,775.6 1,883.7 2,004.0 2,274.3 44.8

 EU-15 ..................................... 1,132.9 1,280.9 1,365.0 1,483.3 1,653.2 45.9

 Eastern Europe ............................. 2.0 4.6 11.6 15.8 23.1 1055.0

 Latin America ............................... 129.9 151.8 175.9 183.2 241.2 85.7

 Asia ...................................... 4.5 4.7 4.7 5.2 5.4 20.0

U.S. merchandise trade balance:

United Kingdom ............................ -439.3 -474.6 -494.9 -529.9 -569.3 29.6

France .................................... -299.0 -351.3 -388.6 -445.1 -499.6 67.1

Canada ................................... -278.5 -306.7 -300.3 -292.4 -339.9 22.0

Mexico .................................... -107.4 -129.9 -150.2 -145.5 -196.9 83.3

Sweden ................................... -118.0 -135.1 -145.6 -163.3 -187.9 59.2

Ireland .................................... -98.7 -120.1 -133.7 -130.4 -144.5 46.4

Japan .................................... 93.2 74.1 71.4 83.5 76.5 -17.9

Germany .................................. 14.3 17.9 25.8 17.6 32.3 125.9

Italy ...................................... -41.6 -47.0 -48.4 -51.2 -48.7 17.1

Russia .................................... -21.3 -39.5 -56.5 -54.6 -72.9 242.3

All other ................................... 57.2 61.0 43.0 10.7 8.3 -85.5

 Total ..................................... -1239.1 -1451.2 -1578.0 -1700.6 -1942.6 56.8

 OECD ..................................... -1246.3 -1444.5 -1547.9 -1658.3 -1889.2 51.6

 EU-15 ..................................... -984.8 -1121.3 -1208.9 -1335.9 -1462.7 48.5

 Eastern Europe ............................. 1.0 -0.3 -6.1 -9.9 -16.1 -1710.0

 Latin America ............................... -101.7 -123.0 -149.2 -143.4 -202.4 99.0

 Asia ...................................... 109.5 90.0 86.1 92.9 89.0 -18.7

1

 Import values are based on customs value; export values are based on f.a.s. value, U.S. ports of export.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-15

Table A-25

Distilled spirits: World imports by selected countries and country groups1

Value (million dollars)

Market 1995 1996 1997 1998

North America:

United States .............................................. 1,935.0 2,160.1 2,301.8 2,406.4

 Canada .................................................. 190.2 184.0 215.7 203.2

 Mexico ................................................... 65.8 71.9 75.7 71.3

 Subtotal ................................................ 2,191.0 2,416.0 2,593.2 2,680.9

EU-152:

 Spain ................................................... 755.5 789.5 845.6 775.0

 Germany ................................................ 709.7 668.7 684.2 636.4

 United Kingdom ........................................... 411.2 468.1 497.2 537.3

 France .................................................. 522.2 524.1 465.4 510.6

 Italy ..................................................... (

3

) 263.1 229.0 (

3

)

 Greece .................................................. 221.2 227.0 194.7 218.7

 Belgium ................................................. 228.6 178.9 214.2 213.7

 Netherlands .............................................. 206.7 208.3 155.5 146.3

 Portugal ................................................. 121.0 122.5 132.0 139.3

 Sweden ................................................. 68.2 93.4 82.4 (

3

)

 Denmark ................................................ 62.7 65.5 77.3 77.8

Ireland .................................................. 48.0 54.3 61.1 61.3

 Austria .................................................. 62.5 58.6 61.3 59.1

 Finland .................................................. 56.4 58.1 59.9 68.0

Subtotal ............................................... 3,474.2 3,780.2 3,759.9 3,766.1

Asia:

Japan ................................................... 1,173.1 1,016.1 896.0 824.1

 Singapore ................................................ 427.0 381.4 382.2 237.0

 Hong Kong ............................................... 474.4 356.4 398.5 233.6

 Republic of Korea ......................................... 132.3 205.3 207.6 114.9

 Thailand ................................................. 139.5 146.8 109.6 (

3

)

 China ................................................... 25.9 10.9 10.6 10.6

 India .................................................... 7.9 4.2 4.8 (

3

)

 Subtotal ............................................... 2,380.1 2,121.1 2,009.3 (

3

)

Oceania:

 Australia ................................................. 173.9 188.5 193.2 (

3

)

 New Zealand ............................................. 48.6 47.8 (

3

) 44.9

 Subtotal ............................................... 222.5 236.3 193.2 (

3

)

Middle East:

Turkey .................................................. 12.2 11.4 8.5 9.0

 Israel ................................................... 7.2 7.5 8.7 8.9

 Subtotal ............................................... 19.4 18.9 17.2 17.9

Eastern Europe:

 Czech Republic ........................................... 34.8 50.4 49.9 31.7

 Hungary ................................................. 14.8 11.7 10.9 9.2

 Poland .................................................. 8.1 16.6 16.9 (

3

)

 Slovakia ................................................. 11.2 8.5 15.7 15.5

 Croatia .................................................. 8.2 7.7 9.3 12.0

 Subtotal ............................................... 77.1 94.9 102.7 68.4

Russian Federation ........................................ (

3

) 209.6 192.7 (

3

)

Ukraine .................................................. 147.2 84.2 24.6 27.7

Subtotal ............................................... (

3

) 293.8 217.3 (

3

)

South America:

Brazil ................................................... 47.0 50.3 90.9 70.6

Argentina ................................................ 17.7 23.0 32.6 33.8

Chile .................................................... 21.4 22.8 23.2 22.0

Peru .................................................... 19.1 18.2 18.9 15.9

Uruguay ................................................. 9.7 12.7 13.5 13.4

Subtotal ............................................... 114.9 127.0 179.1 155.7

1

 Includes HTS categories 2208.10 - Compound alcoholic preparations; 2208.20 - Grape brandy; 2208.30 - Whiskies; 2208.40 - Rum and Tafia;

2208.50 - Gin and Geneva; 2208.90 - Other alcoholic liqueurs nes. (Including vodka, liqueurs, etc.).

2

 Includes intra-EU trade.

3 Not available. 

Source: FAS database using data from the United Nations Statistical Office. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-16

Table A-26

Distilled spirits: World exports by selected countries and country groups1 1995-98

Value (million dollars)

Countries and groups 1995 1996 1997 1998

North America:

United States ........................................ 390.3 385.5 385.3 385.0

Canada ............................................ 362.0 403.5 395.1 394.1

Mexico ............................................. 179.9 197.7 216.1 242.5

 Subtotal ......................................... 932.2 986.7 996.5 1,021.6

EU-152:

United Kingdom ...................................... 4,096.2 4,083.9 4,530.1 3,944.9

 France ............................................. 2,417.7 2,316.6 2,095.3 1,843.4

 Ireland ............................................. 422.2 477.6 492.6 484.0

 Germany ........................................... 498.0 399.1 289.3 309.0

 Italy ................................................ (

3

) 326.8 300.9 (

3

)

Spain .............................................. 119.1 174.8 294.6 214.9

Netherlands ......................................... 268.3 271.5 176.6 204.0

 Sweden ............................................ 173.0 207.9 207.7 (

3

)

 Belgium ............................................ 201.8 135.3 117.5 112.7

 Finland ............................................. 52.1 71.5 57.7 (

3

)

 Denmark ........................................... 49.4 41.6 46.0 47.2

 Greece ............................................. 87.2 94.1 55.7 45.5

Portugal ............................................ 17.9 16.0 19.1 17.2

Austria ............................................. 50.8 24.2 18.6 16.7

 Subtotal .......................................... 8,453.7 8,640.9 8,701.7 7,239.5

Asia:

Singapore .......................................... 421.2 406.4 376.3 246.6

Korea .............................................. 33.9 52.7 58.6 64.0

Japan .............................................. 28.2 34.1 51.6 47.7

China .............................................. 60.4 49.6 55.5 46.9

Malaysia ............................................ 34.4 34.5 29.8 (

3

)

India ............................................... 8.6 9.2 6.2 (

3

)

Thailand ............................................ 3.5 5.4 6.2 (

3

)

Subtotal .......................................... 590.2 591.9 584.2 (

3

)

Oceania:

New Zealand ........................................ 6.3 10.1 15.0 15.4

Australia ............................................ 5.5 4.5 7.9 (

3

)

Subtotal .......................................... 11.8 14.6 22.9 (

3

)

Middle East

Turkey ............................................. 6.8 6.9 5.8 4.8

Israel .............................................. 24.8 14.5 4.4 1.3

Subtotal .......................................... 31.6 21.4 10.2 6.1

Eastern Europe:

Poland ............................................. 51.4 39.6 25.8 (

3

)

Croatia ............................................. 19.2 22.6 19.1 19.6

Czech Republic ...................................... 20.0 14.4 8.3 12.0

Hungary ............................................ 113.0 61.7 6.9 (

3

)

Subtotal .......................................... 203.6 138.3 60.1 (

3

)

Russian Federation ..................................... (

3

) 143.6 74.7 (

3

)

Ukraine ............................................... 1.8 64.6 4.9 5.4

 Subtotal .......................................... (

3

) 208.2 79.6 (

3

)

South America

Brazil .............................................. 23.4 29.9 11.4 11.0

Argentina ........................................... 7.4 6.1 6.6 3.8

Chile ............................................... 2.4 1.6 1.5 2.0

Subtotal .......................................... 33.2 37.6 19.5 16.8

1

 Includes HTS categories 2208.10 - Compound alcoholic preparations; 220820 - Grape brandy; 2208.30 - Whiskies; 2208.40 - Rum and

Tafia; 2208.50 - Gin and Geneva; 2208.90 - Other alcoholic liqueurs nes.

2

 Includes intra-EU trade.

3

 Not available. 

Source: FAS database using data from the United Nations Statistical Office. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding. 
A-17

Table A-27

Distilled spirits: Composition of U.S. imports for consumption, 1995-99

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/19991

––––––––– Value (million dollars) ––––––––––

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bottled)2...... 314.4 358.7 381.0 405.0 438.4 39.4

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bulk)3........ 62.0 57.3 59.3 48.8 55.7 -10.2

Other whiskey4...................... 293.8 326.6 328.8 317.9 362.3 23.3

Subtotal whiskey .................. 670.2 742.6 769.0 771.8 856.4 27.8

Liqueurs and cordials ................. (

5

) 366.0 383.0 397.1 432.1 18.1

Vodka ............................ (

5

) 225.1 258.1 286.0 366.7 62.9

Brandy6........................... 203.4 247.0 268.8 313.0 345.3 69.8

Other distilled spirits ................. (

5

) 168.1 190.2 197.7 246.9 46.9

Gin .............................. 79.6 83.0 83.8 103.2 111.8 40.5

Rum ............................. 10.9 10.7 12.5 14.6 22.6 107.3

Total ......................... 1,629.1 1,842.5 1,965.6 2,083.4 2,381.9 46.2

––––––– Quantity (million proof liters) –––––––

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bottled)2...... 38.9 40.5 41.2 40.1 39.9 2.6

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bulk)3........ 26.7 27.6 28.3 23.6 23.3 -12.7

Other whiskey4...................... 109.8 114.6 109.6 107.9 109.6 -0.2

Subtotal whiskey .................. 175.4 182.7 179.0 171.6 172.8 -1.5

Liqueurs and cordials ................. (

5

) 39.4 41.2 42.8 46.5 18.0

Vodka ............................ (

5

) 40.0 42.3 45.0 54.1 35.3

Brandy6........................... 19.0 19.7 19.5 22.6 23.9 25.8

Other distilled spirits ................. (

5

) 56.8 63.1 62.1 71.8 26.4

Gin .............................. 17.8 18.4 19.5 20.9 21.2 19.1

Rum ............................. 5.5 4.9 5.1 4.9 9.3 69.1

Total ......................... 339.7 362.0 369.8 369.9 399.6 17.6

––––– Unit value (dollars per proof liter) –––––

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bottled)2...... 8.1 8.9 9.2 10.1 11.0 35.8

Scotch and Irish whiskies (bulk)3........ 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.4 4.3

Other whiskey4...................... 2.7 2.8 3.0 2.9 3.3 22.2

Subtotal whiskey .................. 3.8 4.1 4.3 4.5 5.0 31.6

Liqueurs and cordials ................. (

5

) 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 0.0

Vodka ............................ (

5

) 5.6 6.1 6.4 6.8 21.4

Brandy6........................... 10.7 12.5 13.8 13.8 14.4 34.6

Other distilled spirits ................. (

5

) 3.0 3.0 3.2 3.4 13.3

Gin .............................. 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.9 5.3 17.8

Rum ............................. 2.0 2.2 2.5 3.0 2.4 20.0

1

 For items broken out of “Other” category after 1995, percentage change will be 1996/99.

2 In containers holding not over 4 liters.

3 In containers over 4 liters.

4 Other than Scotch and Irish whiskey, includes bottled and bulk products. 

5 Items broken out from “Other” category after 1995. 

6 Grape brandy.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to

totals shown due to rounding. 
A-18

Table A-28

Distilled spirits: U.S. imports for consumption of selected spirits by major supplier countries,

1995-99

Value (million dollars)

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/19991

Whiskies:

United Kingdom ..................... 365.8 403.3 420.5 431.7 465.0 27.1

Canada ............................ 293.6 326.4 329.6 318.2 362.6 23.5

Ireland ............................ 10.5 12.7 17.9 19.2 25.3 141.0

All other ........................... (

2

) (

2

) 1.0 2.7 3.6 (

3

)

Total ........................... 670.2 742.6 769.0 771.8 856.4 15.3

Liqueurs and cordials:

France ............................. (

4

) 96.2 104.4 116.8 138.7 44.2

Ireland ............................. (

4

) 105.6 116.6 112.3 119.0 12.7

Italy ............................... (

4

) 51.2 52.4 57.4 57.3 11.9

Germany ........................... (

4

) 32.1 30.0 30.7 35.6 10.9

United Kingdom ...................... (

4

) 22.5 21.3 19.9 22.3 -0.9

Mexico ............................. (

4

) 14.9 15.2 13.6 15.9 6.7

Canada ............................. (

4

) 12.3 11.6 11.2 14.1 14.6

Netherlands ......................... (

4

) 4.9 10.0 9.0 6.1 24.5

Switzerland .......................... (

4

) 11.4 8.2 9.2 5.9 -48.2

Spain .............................. (

4

) 2.9 3.6 7.8 4.5 55.2

All other ............................ (

4

) 11.9 9.8 8.9 12.1 1.7

Total ............................ (

4

) 354.1 373.2 388.2 419.9 18.6

Vodka:

Sweden ............................ (

4

) 136.4 146.3 163.2 188.4 38.1

Russia ............................. (

4

) 46.2 56.9 54.3 72.0 55.8

Netherlands ......................... (

4

) 7.5 12.7 17.5 36.9 392.0

Finland ............................ (

4

) 15.3 16.9 21.9 25.3 65.4

Poland ............................. (

4

) 3.8 10.8 15.0 21.7 471.1

France ............................. (

4

) 1.0 1.8 3.3 6.9 590.0

United Kingdom ...................... (

4

) 5.2 4.7 4.0 5.8 11.5

Denmark ........................... (

4

) 4.6 4.9 3.3 3.3 -28.3

All other ............................ (

4

) 5.2 3.1 3.5 6.4 23.1

Total ............................ (

4

) 225.1 258.1 286.0 366.7 62.9

Brandy5:

France ............................. 186.6 233.2 255.8 297.6 329.7 76.7

Mexico ............................. 8.8 6.6 6.2 6.7 6.4 -27.3

Spain .............................. 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.7 3.1 72.2

Italy ............................... 3.0 2.9 2.7 2.8 3.0 0.0

All other ............................ 3.2 2.3 2.0 3.2 3.1 -3.1

Total ............................ 203.4 246.9 268.8 313.0 345.3 69.8

Gin:

United Kingdom ...................... 79.0 82.6 82.6 102.4 108.7 37.6

All other ............................ 1.0 (

2

) 1.2 1.0 3.2 220.0

Total ............................ 79.6 83.0 83.8 103.2 111.8 40.5

1 Percentage change 1996/99 for spirit categories broken out after 1995.

2 Less than $500,000.

3 Not applicable.

4 Items broken out from “Other” category after 1995.

5 Grape brandy.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals

shown due to rounding.
A-19

Table 29

Distilled spirits: U.S. imports for consumption by major source countries, 1995-991

Market 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/1999

––––––––––––– Value (million dollars) –––––––––––––––

United Kingdom ........... 477.5 514.4 530.4 560.4 604.8 26.7

France .................. 312.9 368.0 401.4 460.5 522.4 67.0

Canada ................. 307.3 340.6 343.5 331.3 378.1 23.0

Mexico .................. 113.0 135.1 153.6 161.4 210.0 85.8

Sweden ................. 119.3 136.8 146.9 164.3 189.4 58.8

Ireland .................. 99.3 121.1 134.7 131.7 145.9 46.9

Russia .................. 36.8 46.5 57.5 55.1 73.0 98.4

Italy .................... 50.3 56.8 57.8 62.5 62.6 24.5

Netherlands .............. 8.6 13.8 25.8 27.7 45.1 424.4

Germany ................ 34.4 35.7 31.7 32.6 38.0 10.5

All other ................. 69.8 73.8 82.6 96.5 112.7 61.5

 Total ................. 1,629.1 1,842.8 1,966.0 2,084.1 2,382.1 46.2

––––––––––– Quantity (million proof liters) ––––––––––––

United Kingdom ........... 84.8 87.7 88.8 84.3 83.8 -1.2

France .................. 20.8 24.0 26.0 30.0 32.8 57.7

Canada ................. 116.2 121.6 115.5 113.4 116.2 0.0

Mexico .................. 52.6 59.3 67.2 66.8 77.3 47.0

Sweden ................. 21.4 23.6 24.2 26.5 30.2 41.1

Ireland .................. 5.7 6.4 6.7 6.6 7.4 29.8

Russia .................. 6.3 7.0 8.4 7.7 9.6 52.4

Italy .................... 8.9 8.3 7.4 7.5 8.6 -3.4

Netherlands .............. 1.4 2.4 4.5 4.7 6.2 342.9

Germany ................ 4.7 5.6 5.0 5.3 5.8 23.4

All other ............. 16.9 16.1 16.1 17.1 21.7 28.4

 Total ............. 339.7 362.0 369.8 369.9 399.6 17.6

––––––––– Unit value (dollars per proof liter) ––––––––––

United Kingdom ........... 5.6 5.9 6.0 6.6 7.2 28.6

France .................. 15.0 15.3 15.4 15.4 15.9 6.0

Canada ................. 2.6 2.8 3.0 2.9 3.3 26.9

Mexico .................. 2.1 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.7 28.6

Sweden ................. 5.6 5.8 6.1 6.2 6.3 12.5

Ireland .................. 17.4 18.9 20.1 20.0 19.7 13.2

Russia .................. 5.8 6.6 6.8 7.2 7.6 31.0

Italy .................... 5.7 6.8 7.8 8.3 7.3 28.1

Netherlands .............. 6.1 5.8 5.7 5.9 7.3 19.7

Germany ................ 7.3 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.6 -9.6

All other ............. 4.1 4.6 5.1 5.6 5.2 26.8

 Total ............. 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.6 6.0 25.0

1 Not including ethyl alcohol for beverage purposes. 

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals

shown due to rounding.
A-20

Table A-30

Distilled spirits: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings; description; U.S. col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 2000; U.S. exports, 1999; and

U.S. imports, 1999

HTS

subheading Description

Col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 1997

General Special1

U.S. exports

1999

U.S. imports

1999

2106.90.12 Compound alcoholic preparations of an alcoholic

strength by volume exceeding 0.5% vol., of a

kind used for the manufacture of beverages, 

containing not over 20 percent of alcohol by weight ........ 4.2¢/kg + 1.9%2 Free(A,CA,E,IL, J, MX)2(

6

) (

5

)

2106.90.15 Compound alcoholic preparations of alcoholic strength by 

volume exceeding 0.5% vol., of a kind used for the 

manufacture of beverages, containing over 20 percent

but not over 50 percent of alcohol by weight ............. 8.4¢/kg + 1.9%2 Free(A,CA,E,IL,J,MX) 2(

6

) (

5

)

2106.90.18 Compound alcoholic preparations for alcoholic strength by

volume exceeding 0.5% vol., of a kind used for the

manufacture of beverages, containing over 50 percent

of alcohol by weight ............................... 17¢/kg + 1.9%2 Free(A,CA,E,IL,J,MX) 2(

6

) (

5

)

2207.10.30 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by 

volume of 80 percent vol. or higher; for beverage

purposes ........................................ 18.9¢/pf. liter3 40 1.0

2208.20.10 Pisco and singani ................................... Free3 0 (

5

)

2208.20.20 Grape brandy, excluding Pisco and singani, in containers

not over 4 liters, not over $2.38/liter .................... Free3(

7

) (

5

)

2208.20.30 Grape brandy, excluding Pisco and singani, in containers

not over 4 liters, valued over $2.38 but not over $3.43/liter ... Free3(

7

) 3.9

2208.20.40 Grape brandy, excluding Pisco and singani, in containers

not over 4 liters, valued over $3.43/liter ................. Free 3(

7

) 335.5

2208.20.50 Grape brandy, excluding Pisco and singani, in containers

over 4 liters, not over $2.38/liter ....................... Free 3(

7

) 3.9

2208.20.60 Grape brandy, excluding Pisco and singani, in containers

over 4 liters, valued over $2.38/liter .................... Free3(

7

) 1.7

2208.30.30 Irish and Scotch whiskies .............................. Free 4 0 494.1

2208.30.60 Whiskies, other than Irish and Scotch whiskies ............. Free 4 327.0 362.3

2208.40.20 Rum and tafia: In containers each holding not over 4 liters,

valued not over $3 per proof liter ...................... 23.7¢/pf. liter4 Free(A+,CA,E,IL)4

11.1¢/pf. liter (MX)4(

8

) 1.6

2208.40.40 Rum and tafia: In containers each holding not over 4 liters,

valued over $3 per proof liter ......................... 13¢/pf. liter4 Free (A+,CA,E,IL)4

11.1¢/pf. liter (MX)4(

8

) 9.9

See footnotes at end of table.
A-21

Table A-30—Continued

Distilled spirits: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings; description; U.S. col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 2000; U.S. exports, 1999; and

U.S. imports, 1999

HTS

subheading Description

Col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 1997

General Special1

U.S. exports

1999

U.S. imports

1999

2208.40.60 Rum and tafia: In containers each holding over 4 liters,

valued not over 69¢ per proof liter ..................... 23.7¢/pf. liter4 Free (A+,CA,E,IL)4

11.1¢/pf. Liter (MX)4(

9

) 1.0

2208.40.80 Rum and tafia: In containers each holding over 4 liters,

valued over 69¢ per proof liter ........................ 13¢/pf. liter4 Free(A+,CA,E,IL)4

11.1¢/pf. liter (MX)4(

9

) 10.3

2208.50.00 Gin and Geneve ..................................... Free4 3.7 111.8

2208.60.10 Vodka, in containers each holding not over 4 liters,

valued not over $2.05/liter ........................... Free4(

10) 1.5

2208.60.20 Vodka, in containers each holding not over 4 liters,

valued over $2.05/liter .............................. Free4(

10) 365.0

2208.60.50 Vodka, in containers each holding over 4 liters .............. Free4(

10) (5

)

2208.70.00 Liqueurs and cordials ................................. Free4 19.5 432.1

2208.90.01 Aquavit ........................................... Free 4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.05 Bitters, not fit for use as beverages ...................... Free4(

11) 3.5

2208.90.10 Bitters, fit for use as beverages ......................... Free4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.12 Slivovitz brandy, valued not over $3.43/liter, in

containers each holding not over 4 liters ................ Free4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.14 Slivovitz brandy, valued not over $3.43/liter, in

containers each holding over 4 liters ................... Free4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.15 Slivovitz brandy, valued over $3.43/liter ................... Free4(

11) 1.0

2208.90.20 Brandy, except grape brandy and slivovitz, in

containers each holding not over 4 liters, valued

not over $2.38/liter ................................. Free4(

11) 1.0

2208.90.25 Brandy, except grape brandy and slivovitz, in

containers each holding not over 4 liters, valued

over $2.38 but not over $3.43/liter ..................... Free4(

11) 1.2

2208.90.30 Brandy, except grape brandy and slivovitz, in

containers each holding not over 4 liters, valued

over $3.43/liter .................................... Free4(

11) 45.7

2208.90.35 Brandy, except grape brandy and slivovitz, in

containers each holding over 4 liters, valued not

over $2.38/liter .................................... Free4(

11) 1.6

See footnotes at end of table.
Table A-30—Continued

Distilled spirits: Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheadings; description; U.S. col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 2000; U.S. exports, 1999; and

U.S. imports, 1999

HTS

subheading Description

Col. 1 rate of duty as of Jan. 1, 1997

General Special1

U.S. exports

1999

U.S. imports

1999

A-22

2208.90.40 Brandy, except grape brandy and slivovitz, in 

containers each holding over 4 liters, valued over

$2.38/liter ....................................... Free4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.46 Kirschwasser and ratafia .............................. Free4(

5

) (

5

)

2208.90.50 Tequila, in containers each holding not over 4 liters .......... Free4(

11) 52.9

2208.90.55 Tequila, in containers each holding over 4 liters ............. Free4(

11) 127.3

2208.90.71 Imitations of brandy and other spirituous beverages .......... Free4(

11) (5

)

2208.90.72 Mescal in containers each holding not over 4 liters ........... Free4(

11) 1.1

2208.90.75 Spirits nesoi, fit for use as beverages or for beverages

purposes ........................................ Free4(

11) 10.2

2208.90.80 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by

volume of less than 80 percent volume, nesoi. ............ 21.1¢/pf. liter4 Free(A,CA,E,IL,J,MX)4(

11) 1.0

1

 Programs under which special tariff treatment may be provided and the corresponding symbols for such programs as they are indicated in the “Special” subcolumn

are as follows: Generalized System of Preferences (A); United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement, goods of Canada (C); Mexico (MX); Caribbean Basin Economic

Recovery Act (E); United States-Israel Free-Trade Area (IL); and the Andean Trade Preference Act (J). See General notes of the HTS for more details on these

programs.

2 Imports under this subheading may be subject to Federal Excise Tax (26 U.S.C. 5001or 26 U.S.C. 5041).

3 Imports under this subheading may be subject to Federal Excise Tax (26 U.S.C. 5001or 26 U.S.C. 5041 or 25 U.S.C. 5051).

4

 Imports under this subheading are subject to Federal Excise Tax (26 U.S.C. 5001).

5

 Less than $500,000.

6

 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2106.90.1650 corresponds to HTS subheadings

2106.90.12, 2106.90.15, 2106.90.18. 1999 exports totaled $9.6 million.

7

 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2208.20.00 corresponds to HTS subheadings

2208.20.20, 2208.20.30, 2208.20.40, 2208.20.50, 2208.20.60. 1999 exports totaled $7.4 million.

8

 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2208.40.00.30 corresponds to HTS subheadings

2208.40.20, 2208.40.40. 1999 exports totaled $10.7 million.

9

 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2208.40.00.50 corresponds to HTS subheadings

2208.40.60, 2208.40.80. 1999 exports totaled $18.3 million.

10 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2208.60 corresponds to HTS subheadings 2208.60.10,

2208.60.20, 2208.60.50. 1999 exports totaled $7.9 million.

11 The value of U.S. exports is not available for this individual HTS subheading. The Schedule B subheading 2208.90.90.00 corresponds to HTS subheadings

2208.90.01- 2208.90.80, except for 2208.90.46. 1999 exports totaled $36.0 million.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce and USITC, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2000), USITC publication

3249, 1999.
A-23

Table 31

Distilled spirits: Composition of U.S. domestic exports1, 1995-99

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/19992

–––––––––––––––––––– Value (million dollars) ––––––––––––––––––––

Bourbon (bottled)3...................... 214.7 217.5 234.0 229.2 261.1 21.6

Bourbon (bulk)4......................... 43.2 41.2 43.7 40.1 40.9 -5.3

Other whiskey (bottled)3.................. 15.7 17.4 10.8 16.0 19.2 22.3

Other whiskey (bulk)4.................... 4.1 2.0 1.5 3.5 5.7 39.0

Subtotal whiskey ...................... 277.7 278.1 290.0 288.8 326.9 17.7

Rum (bottled)3......................... 7.5 8.7 9.7 10.4 10.7 42.7

Rum (bulk)4............................ 5.5 10.5 22.2 22.1 18.3 232.7

 Subtotal rum ........................ 13.0 19.2 31.9 32.5 29.0 123.1

Other distilled spirits .................... (

5

) 40.9 28.0 29.3 36.4 -11.0

Liqueurs and cordials .................... (

5

) 16.8 14.6 16.4 19.5 16.1

Brandy6............................... 9.3 8.4 6.8 9.8 7.4 -20.4

Vodka ................................ (

5

) 19.2 12.2 6.3 7.9 -58.9

Gin .................................. 2.6 2.9 1.7 1.9 3.7 42.3

 Total ............................. 302.6 385.5 385.3 385.0 430.8 42.4

–––––––––––––––––– Quantity (million proof liters) ––––––––––––––––––

Bourbon (bottled)3...................... 28.5 30.1 34.1 36.5 38.0 33.3

Bourbon (bulk)4......................... 20.2 18.9 21.2 19.9 21.4 5.9

Other whiskey (bottled)3.................. 4.7 5.2 3.4 4.9 6.1 29.8

Other whiskey (bulk)4.................... 2.5 1.1 1.0 2.9 3.5 40.0

 Subtotal whiskey ..................... 55.9 55.3 59.7 64.2 69.0 23.4

Rum (bottled)3......................... 2.8 5.1 5.3 6.2 6.0 114.3

Rum (bulk)4............................ 3.9 4.8 10.1 13.8 19.7 405.1

Subtotal rum ......................... 6.7 9.9 15.4 20.0 25.7 283.6

Other distilled spirits .................... (

5

) 14.2 12.2 11.8 14.3 0.7

Liqueurs and cordials .................... (

5

) 3.1 2.2 2.8 3.1 0.0

Brandy6............................... 2.8 2.2 1.6 2.3 1.7 -39.3

Vodka ................................ (

5

) 15.1 7.2 4.6 4.2 -72.2

Gin .................................. 1.2 1.6 1.0 1.2 2.9 141.7

 Total ............................. 106.2 101.4 99.3 106.9 120.9 13.8

––––––––––––––– Unit value (dollars per proof liter) –––––––––––––––––

Bourbon (bottled)3...................... 7.5 7.2 6.9 6.3 6.9 -8.0

Bourbon (bulk)4......................... 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.0 1.9 -9.5

Other whiskey (bottled)3.................. 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.3 3.1 -6.1

Other whiskey (bulk)4.................... 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.2 1.6 0.0

Subtotal whiskey .................... 4.1 5.0 4.9 4.5 4.7 14.6

Rum (bottled)3......................... 2.6 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 -55.0

Rum (bulk)4............................ 1.4 2.2 2.2 1.6 0.9 -35.7

Subtotal rum ........................ 1.9 1.9 2.1 1.6 1.1 -42.1

Other distilled spirits .................... (

5

) 2.9 2.3 2.5 2.5 -13.8

Liqueurs and cordials .................... (

5

) 5.4 6.6 5.9 6.3 16.7

Brandy6............................... 3.3 3.8 4.3 4.3 4.4 33.3

Vodka ................................ (

5

) 1.3 1.7 1.4 1.9 46.2

Gin .................................. 2.2 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.3 -40.9

1

 Does not include alcoholic preparations.

2

 For items broken out of “Other” category after 1995, percentage change is for 1996/99.

3

 In containers not over 4 liters.

4

 In containers over 4 liters.

5

 Items broken out from “Other” category after 1995. 

6 Grape brandy.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding.
A-24

Table A-32

Distilled spirits: U.S. exports of domestic merchandise by principal markets, 1995-991

Market 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/1999

––––––––––––– Value (million dollars) ––––––––––––––

Japan .................... 93.7 75.1 72.4 84.5 77.5 -17.3

Germany .................. 48.7 53.6 57.5 50.2 70.3 44.4

Australia .................. 34.6 38.5 42.8 42.8 45.5 31.5

Canada ................... 28.9 34.1 43.3 39.9 38.5 33.2

United Kingdom ............. 38.0 39.8 35.5 30.5 35.5 -6.6

France .................... 13.9 16.7 12.9 15.4 22.9 64.7

Spain ..................... 9.6 10.7 13.8 12.1 17.8 85.4

Italy ...................... 8.7 9.8 10.8 11.5 13.9 59.8

Mexico .................... 5.6 5.3 3.8 16.0 13.1 133.9

Netherlands ................ 9.5 8.7 9.9 10.9 10.8 13.7

All other ................... 99.2 99.5 87.4 81.3 94.4 -4.8

 Total ................... 390.3 392.0 390.3 395.2 440.3 12.8

––––––––––– Quantity (million proof liters) –––––––––––

Japan .................... 20.2 17.6 16.5 19.0 17.9 -11.4

Germany .................. 10.6 11.1 11.4 11.2 17.0 60.4

Australia .................. 11.1 11.9 13.7 12.3 15.2 36.9

Canada ................... 4.4 5.0 8.2 8.1 9.2 109.1

United Kingdom ............. 8.5 7.8 7.6 9.3 10.4 22.4

France .................... 2.8 3.8 2.9 4.2 4.1 46.4

Spain ..................... 1.3 1.7 2.1 2.0 2.6 100.0

Italy ...................... 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.7 2.5 108.3

Mexico .................... 1.8 2.4 1.3 4.9 4.2 133.3

Netherlands ................ 3.0 3.3 3.9 4.4 4.5 50.0

All other ................... 41.3 35.3 30.3 29.8 33.3 -19.4

 Total ................... 106.2 101.4 99.3 106.9 120.9 13.8

––––––––– Unit value (dollars per proof liter) –––––––––

Japan .................... 4.6 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.3 -6.5

Germany .................. 4.6 4.8 5.0 4.5 4.1 -10.9

Australia .................. 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.5 3.0 -3.2

Canada ................... 6.6 6.8 5.3 4.9 4.2 -36.4

United Kingdom ............. 4.5 5.1 4.7 3.3 3.4 -24.4

France .................... 5.0 4.4 4.4 3.7 5.6 12.0

Spain ..................... 7.4 6.3 6.6 6.1 6.8 -8.1

Italy ...................... 7.3 6.5 7.7 6.8 5.6 -23.3

Mexico .................... 3.1 2.2 2.9 3.3 3.1 0.0

Netherlands ................ 3.2 2.6 2.5 2.5 2.4 -25.0

All other ................... 2.4 2.8 2.9 2.7 2.8 16.7

1

 Not including ethyl alcohol for beverage purposes. 

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals

shown due to rounding.
A-25

Table A-33

Distilled spirits: U.S. domestic exports of whiskey to major market countries and country

groups, 1995-99

Item 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Percentage

change

1995/1999

––––––––– Value (million dollars) –––––––––

Bottled:

Germany ....................... 42.2 45.1 50.5 43.7 57.0 35.1

Japan ......................... 69.6 54.5 56.3 66.1 56.5 -18.8

United Kingdom .................. 23.8 28.3 25.2 18.4 22.5 -5.5

Australia ....................... 14.9 17.0 18.7 22.6 22.1 48.3

France ......................... 10.5 12.3 9.2 11.3 19.2 82.9

Spain .......................... 9.2 9.7 12.6 9.0 15.4 67.4

Italy ........................... 8.5 9.2 10.5 10.7 12.6 48.2

Mexico ......................... 1.0 1.0 1.3 6.8 8.6 760.0

Canada ........................ 4.6 5.7 6.2 6.0 7.3 58.7

New Zealand .................... 4.5 8.8 8.9 6.2 7.2 60.0

Greece ......................... 3.5 4.6 5.0 5.5 5.3 51.4

Singapore ...................... 1.9 2.5 1.5 2.7 3.7 94.7

Netherlands ..................... 4.3 3.2 3.8 3.8 3.4 -20.9

Belgium ........................ 2.4 1.8 1.5 1.6 2.7 12.5

Switzerland ..................... 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.1 2.7 35.0

All other ........................ 27.7 29.3 32.0 29.6 34.0 22.7

Total ........................ 230.4 234.9 244.7 245.2 280.4 21.7

OECD ......................... 207.5 210.5 220.4 222.1 255.5 23.1

EU - 15 ....................... 107.5 117.8 122.9 108.4 145.0 34.9

Asia ........................... 80.5 64.8 65.0 73.4 66.3 -17.6

Latin America .................... 7.5 7.5 7.9 12.9 14.5 93.3

Bulk:

Australia ....................... 18.7 18.6 22.2 18.2 22.3 19.3

Germany ....................... 4.1 5.1 4.7 4.1 5.3 29.3

United Kingdom .................. 10.6 8.1 7.2 7.0 5.2 -50.9

France ......................... 3.1 4.2 3.4 3.5 2.7 -12.9

Japan ......................... 3.6 1.4 1.0 1.1 2.6 -27.8

Belgium ........................ 1.1 1.0 1.6 2.2 1.9 72.7

Canada ........................ (

1

) (

1

) 1.4 1.1 1.8 ??

Netherlands ..................... 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.0 1.1 -21.4

All other ........................ 4.6 3.3 2.4 5.4 3.5 -23.9

Total ........................ 47.3 43.2 45.3 43.7 46.6 -1.5

OECD ......................... 46.1 42.5 44.3 42.7 45.2 -2.0

EU - 15 ........................ 22.1 21.2 19.0 18.7 17.1 -22.6

Asia ........................... 4.4 1.9 1.0 1.4 3.2 -27.3

Latin America .................... 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.1 1.1 10.0

1 Less than $500,000.

Source: Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Figures may not add to totals

shown due to rounding.
A-26

Table A-34

Distilled spirits: Applied tariff levels for selected countries, 2000

Applied tariff levels, 2000 

HTS

subheading Description EU-15 Japan Canada Mexico Australia China

2207.10 Ethyl alcohol 80%alcohol by vol. or 

greater for beverage purposes ...

19.2 Ecu/hl

Free - 28% or ¥39.22/l Free Free 5% plus A$37.41/l 

of alc. 

40%

2208.20 Grape brandy ................... Free ¥170.56/l -¥201.6/l Free Free - 4% 5% plus A$36.44/l 

of alc.

65%

2208.30 Whiskies ....................... Free 7.9%1-10.6% or ¥145.6/l -

¥175.32/l

Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

2208.40 Rum and tafia ................... 0.6 Ecu/%vol./hl 

plus 0 - 3.2 Ecu/hl

13.5% Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

2208.50 Gin and geneve .................. Free 13.1% or ¥57.75/l, whichever

is less

Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

2208.60 Vodka ......................... Free Free - 12% Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

2208.70 Liqueurs and cordials ............. Free ¥94.5/l Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

2208.90 Other spirits .................... Free Free - 18.7% or ¥201.6/l Free Free 5% plus A$36.44/l

of alc.

65%

1Tariff rate for bourbon is 7.9%.

Source: Tariff rates for the EU are from the Official Journal of the European Communities, No. L 278 (Oct. 28, 1999). Tariff rates for Japan are for 1999 from the “Customs Tariff Schedules

of Japan,1999," Japan Tariff Association. Tariff rates for Canada are from Canadian Tariff Schedule 2000, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Tariffs rates for Australia are for 1999

from UNCTAD, Trains 2000 (CDROM). Tariff rates for China are from The International Customs Journal, China 1999-2000, International Customs Tariffs Bureau, No.13, 7th Ed.
A-27

Table A-35

Distilled spirits: Per capita consumption of selected countries by region, 1995-98

(Liters of pure alcohol)

Region/country 1995 1996 1997 1998

Percentage

change

1995/1998

North America:

United States ..................... 1.87 1.89 1.87 1.86 -0.5

Canada ......................... 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.78 4.1

Mexico .......................... 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.0

EU -15:

Greece .......................... 2.70 2.70 2.70 2.70 0.0

Spain ........................... 2.50 2.40 2.60 2.50 0.0

France .......................... 2.48 2.53 2.43 2.43 -2.0

Finland .......................... 1.95 1.96 2.07 2.23 14.4

Germany ........................ 2.20 2.10 2.00 2.00 -9.1

 Ireland .......................... 1.60 1.80 1.80 1.80 12.5

Netherlands ...................... 1.73 1.76 1.72 1.66 -4.0

Luxemburg ....................... 1.60 1.60 1.60 1.60 0.0

Portugal ......................... 1.60 1.50 1.50 1.50 -6.3

Austria .......................... 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.40 -6.7

United Kingdom ................... 1.35 1.39 1.37 1.32 -2.2

Belgium ......................... 1.11 1.14 1.21 1.13 1.8

Denmark ........................ 1.07 1.11 1.11 1.12 4.7

Sweden ......................... 1.33 1.17 1.09 1.05 -21.1

Italy ............................. 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.60 -14.3

Other Europe:

Switzerland ...................... 1.49 1.49 1.47 1.43 -4.0

Norway ......................... 0.81 0.82 0.87 0.75 -7.4

Eastern Europe:

Romania ........................ 3.96 4.00 4.49 4.77 20.5

Slovak Republic ................... 3.90 4.00 4.00 4.10 5.1

Poland .......................... 3.50 3.30 3.40 3.40 -2.9

Hungary ......................... 3.42 3.24 3.25 3.05 -10.8

Bulgaria ......................... 2.75 2.53 2.46 2.47 -10.2

Czech Republic ................... 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 0.0

Former Soviet Union:

Russia .......................... 7.00 5.50 5.50 6.00 -14.3

Latvia ........................... 5.09 4.56 4.75 4.94 -2.9

Estonia .......................... 2.30 1.70 1.70 1.60 -30.4

Ukraine ......................... 1.20 0.70 0.90 0.50 -58.3

Central/ South America:

Guyana ......................... 1.80 2.00 2.00 1.80 0.0

Cuba ........................... 1.80 1.80 1.80 1.70 -5.6

Colombia ........................ 1.70 1.60 1.60 1.70 0.0

Chile ............................ 1.40 1.40 1.50 1.60 14.3

Brazil ........................... 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.0

Venezuela ....................... 1.70 1.70 1.40 1.20 -29.4

Uruguay ......................... 1.10 1.10 1.00 1.00 -9.1

Argentina ........................ 0.20 0.30 0.30 0.30 50.0

Asia:

Thailand ......................... 3.70 3.90 3.70 3.50 -5.4

China ........................... 2.90 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.4

Japan ........................... 2.20 2.20 2.30 2.30 4.5

Singapore ....................... 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.0

India ............................ 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.0

Malaysia ......................... 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.0

Oceania:

New Zealand ..................... 1.12 1.15 1.03 1.46 30.4

Australia ......................... 1.28 1.27 1.22 1.28 0.0

Africa:

South Africa ...................... 1.00 1.00 0.85 0.90 -10.0

Middle East:

Turkey .......................... 0.40 0.30 0.40 0.40 0.0

Source: NTC Publications Ltd., Productschap voor Gedistilleerde Dranken, World Drink Trends 1999, p. 13.

APPENDIX B

EXPLANATION OF TARIFF AND TRADE

AGREEMENT TERMS
B-2

TARIFF AND TRADE AGREEMENT

TERMS

In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), chapters 1 through 97 cover

all goods in trade and incorporate in the tariff nomenclature the internationally adopted

Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System through the 6-digit level of product

description. Subordinate 8-digit product subdivisions, either enacted by Congress or

proclaimed by the President, allow more narrowly applicable duty rates; 10-digit

administrative statistical reporting numbers provide data of national interest. Chapters 98 and

99 contain special U.S. classifications and temporary rate provisions, respectively. The HTS

replaced the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) effective January 1, 1989.

Duty rates in the general subcolumn of HTS column 1 are normal trade relations rates, many

of which have been eliminated or are being reduced as concessions resulting from the Uruguay

Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Column 1-general duty rates apply to all countries

except those listed in HTS general note 3(b) (Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and

Vietnam) plus Serbia and Montenegro, which are subject to the statutory rates set forth in

column 2. Specified goods from designated general-rate countries may be eligible for reduced

rates of duty or for duty-free entry under one or more preferential tariff programs. Such tariff

treatment is set forth in the special subcolumn of HTS rate of duty column 1 or in the general

notes. If eligibility for special tariff rates is not claimed or established, goods are dutiable at

column 1-general rates. The HTS does not enumerate those countries as to which a total or

partial embargo has been declared.

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) affords nonreciprocal tariff preferences to

developing countries to aid their economic development and to diversify and expand their

production and exports. The U.S. GSP, enacted in title V of the Trade Act of 1974 for 10

years and extended several times thereafter, applies to merchandise imported on or after

January 1, 1976 and before the close of September 30, 2001. Indicated by the symbol "A",

"A*", or "A+" in the special subcolumn, the GSP provides duty-free entry to eligible articles

the product of and imported directly from designated beneficiary developing countries, as set

forth in general note 4 to the HTS.

The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) affords nonreciprocal tariff

preferences to developing countries in the Caribbean Basin area to aid their economic

development and to diversify and expand their production and exports. The CBERA, enacted

in title II of Public Law 98-67, implemented by Presidential Proclamation 5133 of November

30, 1983, and amended by the Customs and Trade Act of 1990, applies to merchandise

entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 1984.

Indicated by the symbol "E" or "E*" in the special subcolumn, the CBERA provides duty-free

entry to eligible articles, and reduced-duty treatment to certain other articles, which are the

product of and imported directly from designated countries, as set forth in general note 7 to

the HTS.
B-3

Free rates of duty in the special subcolumn followed by the symbol "IL" are applicable to

products of Israel under the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of

1985 (IFTA), as provided in general note 8 to the HTS. 

Preferential nonreciprocal duty-free or reduced-duty treatment in the special subcolumn

followed by the symbol "J" or "J*" in parentheses is afforded to eligible articles the product

of designated beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), enacted

as title II of Public Law 102-182 and implemented by Presidential Proclamation 6455 of July

2, 1992 (effective July 22, 1992), as set forth in general note 11 to the HTS.

Preferential free rates of duty in the special subcolumn followed by the symbol "CA" are

applicable to eligible goods of Canada, and rates followed by the symbol "MX" are applicable

to eligible goods of Mexico, under the North American Free Trade Agreement, as provided

in general note 12 to the HTS and implemented effective January 1, 1994 by Presidential

Proclamation 6641 of December 15, 1993. Goods must originate in the NAFTA region under

rules set forth in general note 12(t) and meet other requirements of the note and applicable

regulations.

Other special tariff treatment applies to particular products of insular possessions (general

note 3(a)(iv)), products of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (general note 3(a)(v)), goods

covered by the Automotive Products Trade Act (APTA) (general note 5) and the Agreement

on Trade in Civil Aircraft (ATCA) (general note 6), articles imported from freely

associated states (general note 10), pharmaceutical products (general note 13), and

intermediate chemicals for dyes (general note 14).

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), pursuant to the

Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, is based upon the earlier GATT 1947

(61 Stat. (pt. 5) A58; 8 UST (pt. 2) 1786) as the primary multilateral system of disciplines

and principles governing international trade. Signatories' obligations under both the 1994 and

1947 agreements focus upon most-favored-nation treatment, the maintenance of scheduled

concession rates of duty, and national treatment for imported products; the GATT also

provides the legal framework for customs valuation standards, "escape clause" (emergency)

actions, antidumping and countervailing duties, dispute settlement, and other measures. The

results of the Uruguay Round of multilateral tariff negotiations are set forth by way of

separate schedules of concessions for each participating contracting party, with the U.S.

schedule designated as Schedule XX. Pursuant to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing

(ATC) of the GATT 1994, member countries are phasing out restrictions on imports under

the prior "Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Textiles" (known as the Multifiber

Arrangement (MFA)). Under the MFA, which was a departure from GATT 1947

provisions, importing and exporting countries negotiated bilateral agreements limiting textile

and apparel shipments, and importing countries could take unilateral action in the absence or

violation of an agreement. Quantitative limits had been established on imported textiles and

apparel of cotton, other vegetable fibers, wool, man-made fibers or silk blends in an effort to

prevent or limit market disruption in the importing countries. The ATC establishes

notification and safeguard procedures, along with other rules concerning the customs

treatment of textile and apparel shipments, and calls for the eventual complete integration of

this sector into the GATT 1994 over a ten-year period, or by Jan. 1, 2005.