US spirits had a good year domestically in 2019, according to the annual briefing from the Distilled Spirits Council of the US. However, the organization warned that retaliatory tariffs were causing a “significant slump” in American whiskey exports.
In 2019, US supplier sales were up 5.3% to a record total of $29 billion, while volumes rose 3.3% to a record 239 million cases. Whiskey exports declined by 16% to $966 million for the year. As a result, spirits sales rose to 37.8% of the total beverage alcohol market, gaining market share against beer and wine.
“We are hopeful that the recent trade agreements will create new momentum for negotiations with the EU,” said Christine LoCascio, the council’s public policy chief.
Source: AP, DISCUS, February 2020