Indian single malts keep up spirits despite Trump’s tariff heat
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: India's premium whisky, including single malts, headed to the US may not be hit even as the liquor sector may feel the heat of the additional 26% reciprocal tariffs introduced by the US. “An increase in tariffs does have an impact, but whether it will be significant or just a knee-jerk reaction will become clear only after the release of the detailed schedule in the next few days," said Vinod Giri, director general, Brewers Association of India (BAI).
However, Giri said, the additional duties may not impact premium spirits such as single malts and other high-end categories as these products have a greater capacity to absorb tariff-related costs. The steep rise in duties could threaten the sector’s overall momentum, particularly in the case of ethyl alcohol, said trade experts. The existing duty on the category was 3.3%.
India’s presence in the global spirits landscape remains modest but the country has made notable gains in recent years, with rising consumer recognition of Indian single malt brands. India’s exports of alcohol and related spirits to the US rose from $7.09 million in FY23 to $10.5 million in FY24, registering a growth of 48%, according to commerce ministry data. India sold around 675,000 cases of single malt whisky in 2023, growing 16% over 2022, according to the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies.
Domestic brands accounted for over half of this total. Of the 220,000 cases of single malts produced by Indian companies, about 100,000 cases were exported. Also read | Here are the sectoral winners and losers from Trump's reciprocal tariffs The US alcoholic beverages market was valued at $543.13 billion in 2024, with projections indicating it
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