Overall spirits volume and value in GTR increased in 2018. This was driven by gains in several categories, according to leading international wines and spirits analysts, IWSR.

Spirits volume grew +2.5% in the channel to 24.5m nine-litre cases, with a value of $9.2bn.

Japanese whisky (up almost 20% versus 2017), gin (+15%), Scotch (+4.9%), and U.S. whiskey (+4.3%) posted the largest volume increases.

VOLUME GROWTH FORECAST

Over the next five years, IWSR forecasts GTR volume will grow by 2%, led by cane spirits (+6.7%), Japanese whisky (+6.4%), and gin (+6.2%). By region, spirits volume is expected to grow +3.6% in Africa and the Middle East, +2.4% in Asia Pacific, +2.3% in the Americas and +1.2% in Europe (all figures compound annual growth rate 2018-2023).

The retail value of spirits in duty-free is estimated to reach almost $10.4bn by 2023.

Sandra Newman, Travel Retail Research Director at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis said: “Spirits growth in travel retail softened slightly in 2018, compared with the year before, but the positive news here for duty free operators and spirits suppliers is that the channel continues to perform well.”

Johnnie Walker has been the top-selling spirits brand in GTR for the past 30 years, growing by almost 8% last year. The rest of the top five in terms of 2018 volume comprises Jack Daniel’s, Chivas, Absolut and Hennessy.

Aperol and Jägermeister continued to perform strongly in the bitters/aperitifs category. These brands posted the second and third-highest increases in the channel behind Johnnie Walker last year in terms of absolute volume growth.