LONDON: India has overtaken France to become UK's largest Scotch whiskey market. There is a 60% increase in imports over the previous year. This was made clear by the figures of the leading industrial organization in Scotland.

India imported 219 million 70cl Scotch bottles last year. France imported 205 million bottles. According to the Scotch Whiskey Association, the Indian Scotch market has seen a 200% growth in the last ten years. Meanwhile, Scotch whiskey production accounts for only two percent of the Indian whiskey market.

The Scotch Whiskey Association has analyzed that the UK-India FTA agreement, which eases the 150 percent tariff on Scotch whiskey in India, will lead to increased market access for Scotch whiskey companies. It also enables an additional £1 billion of growth over five years. The value of the Indian market in Scotch exports is 5th with a value of 282 million pounds. With a 93% increase in 2021, the market value was behind France, Singapore, and Taiwan.