Japan Data

Japanese Alcohol Exports Surpass ¥100 Billion as Demand for Whisky, Sake Skyrockets

Economy

Japanese alcohol exporters are doing a brisk trade, with total exports surpassing ¥100 billion for the first time in 2021. Behind the popularity of Japanese liquor are the increasing association with quality in the mind of overseas consumers, and the global washoku boom.
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According to trade statistics published by the Ministry of Finance, Japan exported over ¥114.6 billion of alcoholic drinks in 2021 (up 61.4% on the year before), as exports increased for their tenth consecutive year. By comparison, in 2012, Japan exported a mere ¥20.6 billion of alcoholic beverages. This represents a fivefold increase in the space of 10 years.

Sake and whisky made up the lion’s share of exports, accounting for over 70% of the total. While less significant, exports of gin, vodka, and wine are also increasing.

The top importer of Japanese alcohol during the period was China, followed by the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and France. The main importers of Japanese sake are all located in the Asia-Pacific region, and the National Tax Agency says the development of the European sake market is a challenge for the future.

(Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Warehouse containing casks of whisky at Suntory’s Hakushū distillery in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, in 2014.)

sake exports whisky