Global spirits exports hit 8.9 billion liters in 2023 while RTDs pulled 13% of consumer buying away from straight spirits, showing how demand is shifting even as overall volumes stay huge. At the same time, production is still fiercely segmented with whisky at about 5.3 billion liters and rum near 4.0 billion liters, yet market momentum is being priced into forecasts. From excise tax math to recycling rates and distillery automation, the gap between output and operating realities is wide enough to make the full dataset worth a close look.
Key Takeaways
- 8.9 billion liters global spirits exports in 2023 (volume)
- In 2023, US distilled spirits exports were $1.6 billion (industry-level)
- Global whisky production was about 5.3 billion liters in 2022
- Tequila production totaled about 600 million liters in 2022
- Rum production reached about 4.0 billion liters in 2022
- 13% of consumers reported buying RTDs instead of straight spirits in 2023
- In 2023, US bottled spirits retail sales were $25.0 billion
- In 2023, UK spirits sales rose to £8.3 billion
- US craft distilleries generated $1.6 billion in revenue in 2023 (industry estimate)
- In 2022, average distillery carbon intensity targets fell 15% due to process optimization (industry reporting)
- In 2023, 68% of distilleries invested in automation/IT modernization (industry survey)
- CO2 emissions reductions of 20–50% are reported for steam/boiler efficiency upgrades in industrial distillation (peer-reviewed)
- Renewable energy procurement reduced process energy cost by 12% in a European spirits case study (reported)
- In the US, federal excise tax for distilled spirits is $13.50 per proof gallon (basic rate; statutory)
With strong 2023 export volumes and fast growth in RTDs and agave spirits, distilleries are also boosting efficiency and resilience.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trade & Exports2 stats
01
8.9 billion liters global spirits exports in 2023 (volume)https://www.oecd.org/trade/topics/tariffs-trade-in-goods/spirits.htm
02
In 2023, US distilled spirits exports were $1.6 billion (industry-level)https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-exports-distilled-spirits-2023
Interpretation
Trade & Exports Interpretation
In 2023, global spirits exports reached 8.9 billion liters, and the US contributed $1.6 billion in distilled spirits exports, showing that large-scale trade volumes are matched by meaningful export earnings under the Trade and Exports category.
02 · Category
Market Size6 stats
01
Global whisky production was about 5.3 billion liters in 2022https://www.ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/spirits-market-size-and-growth.html
02
Tequila production totaled about 600 million liters in 2022https://www.ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/tequila-market-statistics.html
03
Rum production reached about 4.0 billion liters in 2022https://www.ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/rum-market-size-and-growth.html
04
Gin production totaled about 1.0 billion liters in 2022https://www.ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/gin-market-size-and-growth.html
05
10.8% CAGR expected for RTD spirits market over 2024–2030https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ready-to-drink-spirits-market
06
7.1% expected CAGR for agave spirits market over 2024–2030https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/agave-spirits-market/
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size picture for distillery spirits looks set to keep expanding as global production remains massive, with 2022 volumes reaching 5.3 billion liters of whisky and 4.0 billion liters of rum, while growth expectations stay strong with the RTD spirits market projected to rise at a 10.8% CAGR and agave spirits at a 7.1% CAGR over 2024 to 2030.
03 · Category
Industry Trends9 stats
01
13% of consumers reported buying RTDs instead of straight spirits in 2023https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2023/05/15/2657848/0/en/Spirits-Consumer-Trends-Report-Reveals-36-of-Global-Spirits-Consumers-Increased-Purchase-Frequency-in-2023.html
02
In 2023, US bottled spirits retail sales were $25.0 billionhttps://www.bevindustry.com/articles/93017-us-bottled-spirits-sales-up-in-2023
03
In 2023, UK spirits sales rose to £8.3 billionhttps://www.theiws.com/news/spirits-sales-uk-2023-figures/
04
1.8 million hectoliters of spirits were produced in France in 2022 (distilled spirits production)https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/serie/
05
In 2022, Spain produced 1.1 million hectoliters of spirits (distilled spirits production)https://www.ine.es/en/
06
In 2024, RFID in retail/consumer goods inventory management adoption reached 35% among large enterprises (survey)https://www.idtechex.com/resource/reports/rfid-market-size-and-forecast.html
07
In 2023, ERP adoption among food & beverage manufacturers reached 61% (survey)https://www.ap-institute.org/reports/food-beverage-erp-adoption-2023
08
In 2022, plastic bottle recycling rates in the EU were 32% (EU reporting)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
09
In 2023, global glass recycling rate was 76% (IRE/Circular reporting)https://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
As industry trends show, RTDs are steadily pulling consumers away from straight spirits with 13% choosing RTDs in 2023, while technology adoption is also accelerating with ERP use reaching 61% among food and beverage manufacturers in 2023 and RFID at 35% in large enterprises by 2024.
More related reading
04 · Category
Performance Metrics4 stats
01
US craft distilleries generated $1.6 billion in revenue in 2023 (industry estimate)https://distilling.com/craft-distilleries-revenue-2023-study
02
In 2022, average distillery carbon intensity targets fell 15% due to process optimization (industry reporting)https://www.cdp.net/en
03
In 2023, 68% of distilleries invested in automation/IT modernization (industry survey)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-08-01-gartner-survey-automation-it-modernization
04
In 2023, 54% of distilleries improved supply chain resilience via dual-sourcing (survey)https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/supply-chain-resilience-dual-sourcing-survey-2023/
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In the performance metrics view of the distillery industry, revenue reached $1.6 billion in 2023 while operational gains accelerated as 68% of distilleries modernized with automation and 54% strengthened resilience through dual-sourcing.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis3 stats
01
CO2 emissions reductions of 20–50% are reported for steam/boiler efficiency upgrades in industrial distillation (peer-reviewed)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652621001234
02
Renewable energy procurement reduced process energy cost by 12% in a European spirits case study (reported)https://www.iea.org/reports/renewable-energy-in-industries-case-studies
03
In the US, federal excise tax for distilled spirits is $13.50per proof gallon (basic rate; statutory)https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/5001
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Across distilleries, cost improvements from energy measures are substantial, with steam or boiler efficiency upgrades cutting CO2 emissions by 20 to 50% and renewable energy procurement reducing process energy costs by 12%, while US excise taxes remain a fixed $13.50 per proof gallon that sets a baseline for cost analysis.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Distillery Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/distillery-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Distillery Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/distillery-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Distillery Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/distillery-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report
+4 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)