U.S. Spirits Exports Rise In 2024, Outlook Uncertain Amid Tariff Battle
U.S. spirits exports totaled $2.4 billion in 2024, up nearly 10% compared to 2023, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS). “The growth in U.S. exports in 2024 was driven by a 39% increase in exports to the European Union, which has zero tariffs on spirits imports,” DISCUS noted. “Exports to the rest of the world declined by nearly 10%, reflecting a softening of the global spirits market.”
Cordials and vodka drove export growth last year, with cordials rising by 128% to $367 million and vodka increasing by 82% to $292 million. Whiskies, while still the largest export category, representing more than half of total exports, were down 5.4% to $1.3 billion.
The outlook for exports is clouded this year by the U.S. administration’s attempted reordering of global trade. Amid heightened tensions, Canada began imposing a 25% tariff on all U.S. spirits on March 13, and most Canadian provinces have removed U.S. alcohol products from stores. Prospects in the European market hinge on current trade talks between the U.S. and the bloc, with the U.S. currently tariffing E.U. goods by 10%, with a heavier 20% rate slated to take effect in two months, barring a broader trade agreement.
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