Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of excise duty levels on the export competitiveness of UK-produced spirits; and what spirit exports were by (a) value and (b) volume in the last period for which data is available.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT helps distillers access global markets and increase competitiveness through free trade agreements such as the UK-India FTA, breaking down market access barriers and providing targeted support via business.gov.uk. Excise duty does not apply to spirits produced and exported from the UK. In the 12 months to August 2025, UK spirit exports were provisionally valued at £6.7 billion, with a total volume of around 500 million litres.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support (a) small and (b) independent distillers wishing to export.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DBT negotiates new free trade agreements, such as the UK-India FTA, and seeks to remove market access barriers for UK distillers. We recently agreed a Geographic Indicator for Scotch Whisky in Argentina. DBT provides direct export support via business.gov.uk, including access to the Business Academy and international market teams. This November, DBT will lead a landmark Spirits trade mission to New Delhi and Mumbai, offering UK distillers a strategic gateway into India’s fast-growing alcoholic drinks market. Distillers of all sizes can access UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, which offers a wide range of products to support exporters and export-ready businesses.