Irish whiskey exports reach all-time record

By SAM BUTLER

The value of Irish whiskey exports from across the island surpassed €1 billion (US$1.07bn) for the first time in 2022.

The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) said the figure was based on Central Statistics Office/Eurostat data from Ireland and member data from Northern Ireland.

The trade body said export value represented a more accurate picture of the contribution to the all-island economy than global retail value.

The IWA assessed the 2021 export value for the category to be in the region of €850 million (US$912m), however figures were not available on an all-island basis.

William Lavelle, director of the IWA, explained: “Breaking €1bn in export value represents another important milestone in the Irish whiskey renaissance and confirms the importance of our unique all-island industry to our shared economy, North and South.

“Across the island of Ireland, the growth in Irish whiskey exports has created more quality jobs, brought more investment into regional and rural communities, and led to more purchasing from Irish farmers.”

The IWA’s 2022 Irish Whiskey Global international trade report, published in October last year, noted that export growth was driven by the global demand for premium, higher-priced Irish whiskey, rapid market diversification, the rise of e-commerce and increased interest from Millennials and Gen Z.

Irish whiskey recorded double and triple-digit growth in a range of emerging markets in 2021, from Australia to Africa and Asia, the report noted.

The report identified 10 emerging markets to watch for future export growth: China/Hong Kong, Israel, Austria, Nigeria, New Zealand, Turkey, South Korea, India, Kenya and Mexico.