Imported gin sales almost double in Australia

New figures from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs show exports of British gin to Australia almost doubled during the past six months to reach £10.3 million.

The results are up from the £4.8 million achieved in the first half of 2017 and make Australia one of Britain's biggest export markets for gin. 

Gin sales are booming in Australia generally. The surge in popularity of gin has been dubbed the ‘ginaissance’, with Dan Murphy’s head of spirits, Adam Jenkins, recently telling News Corp that gin sales have grown by 30%, making it one of the fastest-growing spirit segments.

Overall exports from the birthplace of gin - the UK - have risen by 19% in value in the first half of 2018 to reach a record £279 million and are predicted to reach £600 million by the end of the year.

Britain now exports more gin beef, with the US remaining the largest destination for the spirit. Sales to the US are now worth £93 million, an increase of £5 million from the same period in 2017.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) chief executive Miles Beale said: “The global thirst for British gin continues to grow and there is no doubt that those overseas are drawn to the quality of gin made here in the UK. Gin is a quintessentially British spirit, and perfect for anyone looking to tap into Brand Britain overseas.

“We are, by some margin, the largest exporter of gin in the world, with huge potential for growth, and our industry needs to take further advantage of this.

"On leaving the EU, we want more government support to increase exports to developed markets such as Australia, Japan, China and the US. The EU represents a huge market for British gin, therefore it essential that we secure frictionless trade with Europe to ensure we maintain our position as the world’s largest spirits exporter and further boost the UK economy and provide more jobs”.

Domestically, gin sales recorded in the 12 months to the end of March 2018 showed almost 55 million bottles of gin, worth almost £1.5 billion, were sold in the UK, up 28% in volume and 33% in value on the same period the previous year.

A YouGov poll recently found gin is now the UK’s most popular spirit with 29% of drinkers voting it their favourite spirit tipple.