Skip to the content Scotch Whisky Association Newsroom Insights Join Us Discover Who We Are Contact us Member login Home Insights Facts & Figures Facts & Figures Facts & Figures 36 bottles (70cl @40% ABV) of Scotch Whisky are shipped from Scotland to 166 markets around the world each second (down from 42 bottles per second in 2019), totalling over 1.14bn every year Laid end to end those bottles would stretch about 342,000kms - that's 90% of the distance to the moon! Scotch Whisky exports are worth £3.8bn (down from £4.9bn in 2019) In 2019, Scotch Whisky accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, 21% of all UK food and drink exports, and 1.4% of all UK goods exports The Scotch Whisky industry provides £5.5bn in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy More than 10,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry in Scotland and over 40,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry 7,000 of these jobs in rural areas of Scotland providing vital employment and investment to communities across the Highlands and Islands Around 90% of barley requirements of the industry are sourced in Scotland There are 2.2 million visits to Scotch Whisky distilleries a year, making the industry the third most popular tourist attraction in Scotland Some 22 million casks lie maturing in warehouses in Scotland waiting to be discovered To be called Scotch Whisky, the spirit must mature in oak casks in Scotland for at least 3 years There are currently 134 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland All figures relate to Jan-Dec 2020 unless stated. news & commentary 12 February 2021 'Lost decade of growth' as tariffs and Covid hit Scotch Whisky exports hard Scotch Whisky export figures for 2020 have now been released, with the industry experiencing a ‘lost decade of growth’ as tariffs and Covid hit exports hard. Read more 11 February 2020 Scotch Whisky exports surge amidst backdrop of tariff uncertainty Scotch Whisky exports grew by 4.4% to more than £4.9bn in 2019, with 1.3bn bottles exported to 180 markets. Read more 12 February 2019 Scotch Whisky Exports on the up in 2018 Latest figures reveal a strong year for Scotch Whisky exports in 2018 with global growth in both value and volume. Read more 19 October 2018 Scotch Whisky exports show growth in first half of 2018 Scotch Whisky exports increased in the first half of 2018 to £1.97 billion, a 10.8% rise in the value of exports against the same period last year. Read more 23 May 2018 Scotch Whisky Exports Analysis 2017 The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has released an analysis of the industry's 2017 export performance that indicates the UK trade deficit would be almost 3% worse without Scotland's national drink. Read more 09 February 2018 2017 Export Figures Scotch Whisky has enjoyed a record-breaking year for exports in 2017. According to official HMRC data, last year Scotch grew in both volume and value (by 1.6% and 8.9% respectively) to a total of £4.36bn - the equivalent of 1.23bn bottles exported globally. Read more publications 01 September 2019 Scotch Whisky Exports Analysis 2018 An analysis of exports data for Scotch Whisky in 2018. Read more 26 October 2018 Distilleries to Visit A comprehensive guide providing full details of our members' distilleries and visitor centres that are open to the public. This publication provides full information on opening times, special tours and visitor centre facilities. Read more 23 May 2018 Scotch Whisky Exports Analysis 2017 SWA Analysis of 2017 export figures for Scotch Whisky Read more About the SWA Who we are Members Directory Contact Get in touch Privacy Policy Subscribe to mailing list Sign-up The Scotch Whisky Association Edinburgh HQ: Quartermile Two, 2 Lister Square, Edinburgh EH3 9GL E: info@swa.org.uk | T: (+44) 131 222 9200 Follow us twitter linkedin instagram Cookie Notice Find out more about how Accept Cookies Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Email Share to LinkedIn More AddThis Share options