Moray SNP News
MSP COMMENTS ON SCOTCH WHISKY EXPORTS GROWTH
10/04/2019Richard Lochhead MSP has praised the Scotch Whisky industry after it was revealed that exports in 2018 saw growth in both value and volume.
Figures released by the Scotch Whisky Association today showed that in 2018, the export value of Scotch Whisky grew +7.8% by value, to a record £4.70bn. The number of 70cl bottles exported also reached record levels growing to the equivalent of 1.28bn, up +3.6%.
Moray’s MSP has also warned of the danger that a no deal Brexit would pose to the sector given the EU remains the largest region for Scotch Whisky exports, accounting for 30% of global value and 36% of global volume.
Commenting the SNP MSP said:
“The global growth of Scotch whisky exports by both value and volume is great news for Speyside, which is of course home to half of Scotland’s whisky distilleries. We’ve seen huge investment in the industry in recent years which is clearly paying off with Scotch whisky continuing to go from strength to strength.
“It is important to note that the EU remains the largest region for Scotch whisky exports and that is why it is absolutely vital for Speyside and Moray’s economy that the Conservative Government doesn’t allow us to crash out of the European Union without a deal. A no deal Brexit would undermine the global success of the sector and would undoubtedly be a real threat to our local economy and to jobs in the area.
“Brexit will leave us in a worse position but we should be clear that a no deal Brexit could potentially be catastrophic and the focus has to be on what’s best for Moray and the local economy, and not the internal problems within the Conservative Party.”
