US spirits exports tumble as drinkers shun American brands, industry warns
[WASHINGTON] Exports of US spirits fell 9 per cent in the second quarter, according to a report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the US published on Monday (Oct 6), which warned that trade tensions were hitting demand in key markets.
The decline marked a sharp reversal from 2024’s strong export performance, with steep drops across major markets including the European Union, Canada, Britain and Japan, which together represent 70 per cent of total exports by value, DISCUS said.
The trade association represents top spirits makers, including Jameson Irish whisky maker Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman, which produces Jack Daniel’s.
Canada saw the most dramatic fall, with US spirits exports plummeting 85 per cent to below US$10 million in the second quarter. The majority of Canadian provinces continue to ban American spirits from their shelves in response to US tariffs targeting Canada, although the country removed retaliatory tariffs in September.
Exports to the EU, the industry’s largest market, dropped 12 per cent to US$290.3 million, while shipments to Britain fell 29 per cent to US$26.9 million and those to Japan decreased 23 per cent to US$21.4 million, with DISCUS also citing trade tensions.
“There’s a growing concern that our international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from countries other than the US, signalling a shift away from our great American spirits brands,” said DISCUS president Chris Swonger.
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Other consumer goods industries have warned about rising anti-American sentiment following the sweeping tariff regime and other policies pursued by US President Donald Trump.
Denim maker Levi Strauss warned in August that it faced risks of “rising anti-Americanism” as a consequence and that some consumers could shift away from US products. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors in May that the company had also observed an uptick in such sentiment, particularly in Northern Europe and Canada.
The export slump comes as American whisky producers contend with slowing domestic sales and record-high inventory levels, DISCUS said.
Swonger said that the spirits sector is deeply interconnected, meaning US tariffs hit the industry as a whole. He urged the Trump administration to work towards restoring zero-for-zero tariffs with trading partners. REUTERS
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