The booming Scotch Whisky business will show continued growth for the next five years at least, says VINEXPO, the world’s leading wine and spirits exhibition. The VINEXPO forecast complements encouraging news from the Scotch Whisky Association which reveals that exports rose by both value and volume in 2016.

Based on its own data commissioned from IWSR, the international trade show reveals that global Scotch Whisky exports will growth year-on-year, reaching 93.8 million 9l cases by 2020. This year VINEXPO forecasts world sales will hit 87.7 million cases.

Mark Newton, Commercial Director of Whyte and Mackay Private Label says: “We first exhibited at VINEXPO  in 2015 as part of a series of trade show activations. VINEXPO offered us excellent exposure and opportunities to connect with an international audience of buyers.  In particularly, we established some good leads from markets such as Russia, Africa, China and Australasia, as well as Europe and the Middle East. Mark adds, “The show certainly offers good value -we encounter people we wouldn’t normally meet; pick up industry opinion and get the opportunity to see things from another point of view”.

Laura Laden, Events and Projects manager for Angus Dundee distillers, is seeking world contacts. “Vinexpo has visitors from the world over, every continent is there. We have been going to Vinexpo for many years. We always have a fabulous time.”

New products

During the four-day exhibition new Single Malt whiskies from Angus Dundee’s Tomintoul distillery in Speyside and Glencadam distillery in the Eastern Highlands will be launched. Laura says, “We export to 80 countries so Vinexpo offers a great opportunity to meet old and new customers, it is such an international show of great important to us.  It is also a great opportunity to see what is happening in the spirits business around the world. After all, Vinexpo represents the world spirits industry with every continent present and something like 135 countries accounted for.”

There is also a vibrant social and contact-making side to Vinexpo which Graham Taylor, MD of Glasgow Whisky, relishes. “It’s a great place to meet folk in a pleasant and informal setting, and that includes competitors, whom we haven’t seen in the course of the year. Bordeaux is a beautiful city; a great place to do business.”

Graham says that among the range of Blends displayed, Glasgow Whisky will be showing a Single Malt called Speymhor, which is offered in a wide range of ages. He adds, “We always make good contacts. Both Vinexpo Bordeaux and Vinexpo Hong Kong are very worthwhile.” As for business, his company has just started shipping Scotch Whisky to China from a contact made at Vinexpo Hong Kong last May.

Not uniform growth

VINEXPO says that while growth will not be uniform due to slow downs in North America, Russia and Australasia, strong sales in Asia and Latin America will more than compensate. The Asia Pacific region will see sales rise from 14.6 million cases this year to 15.2 million cases in 2018 while combined Latin and North American sales will hit 25.5 million cases in 2018, up from 25.1 million.

Europe is, and will remain, the world’s biggest market for Scotch Whisky. Sales are forecast to climb to 35.8 million cases this year and to reach 36.2 million cases in 2018.

Meanwhile, the growing popularity of higher-priced Malt Scotch Whisky over blended Scotch, albeit from a smaller base, is helping to boost Scotch Whisky globally.

The trend to Malt Whisky will continue to take market share from blended premium Scotch over the five year period to 2020, forecasts the VINEXPO/IWSR report.

Scotch Whisky and US Whiskey are forecast to be the best performing international spirits categories between 2016 and 2020.

Guillaume Deglise, CEO of VINEXPO, says: “Spirits brands have always been an integral part of VINEXPO because of the international character of the exhibition. With global spirits sales growing at 1.4% a year we foresee increased buyer interest from Asia and Latin America in Bordeaux this June”.

Source: Vinexpo Newsroom