UK whisky exports to the Philippines fell sharply in the first half of 2026 while Thailand saw fewer bottles but higher value, according to trade press coverage of the Food and Drink Federation's latest trade snapshot.

TL;DR

  • UK whisky exports rose 2.2% in value to £2.5bn in H1 2026, with volumes up 5.8%, as reported by Just Drinks.
  • Philippines: volumes down 70.4% and value down 57.2%, from a small base of £1.3m.
  • Thailand: volumes down 16.7% but value up 6.1% to £9.7m, behind a reported 60% tariff.

What did the FDF report say about UK whisky exports?

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the UK trade body for food and drink manufacturers. Its H1 2026 Trade Snapshot, published on 25 September 2026 and built on UK customs data, found that total UK food and drink exports fell 3.4% to £12.0bn, with export volumes down 11.7%. Whisky was the bright spot. Trade press reports citing the snapshot say whisky exports rose 2.2% in value to £2.5bn and 5.8% in volume, and that whisky remains the UK's top-selling food and drink export.

How did Thailand and the Philippines compare?

Thailand: whisky is reported as the leading UK food and drink export to Thailand, worth £9.7m in the half. Volumes fell 16.7% while value rose 6.1%. That could point to a shift towards higher-priced bottles, but the coverage we reviewed does not say so. The reported tariff is 60%.

Philippines: whisky ranked fifth among UK food and drink exports there at £1.3m. Volumes fell 70.4% and value fell 57.2%. The reported tariff is 15%.

Why does a small market like the Philippines matter?

At £1.3m, the Philippines is tiny beside the UK's £2.5bn whisky total, so one large shipment or a single distributor change can swing the percentage. These are six-month customs figures, not a trend. They do show how exposed smaller Asian markets are to tariff and logistics shifts.

Could trade deals change the picture?

The UK joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade bloc, in December 2024. Indonesia, the Philippines, Uruguay and the UAE have applied to join. The FDF says expansion could reduce tariffs that restrict UK food and drink, and The Spirits Business reports that Philippine membership would add reciprocal tariff benefits for UK exports. We could not confirm an accession timetable.

Why it matters for Asian buyers and investors

For distributors, bar groups and cask buyers in Southeast Asia, the data is a reminder that import duty, not only demand, shapes which bottles reach shelves and at what margin. Our earlier reports on the US tariff reset and the Scotch duty campaign cover the same theme from the producer side, and our Japanese whisky duty-free story shows where Asian demand is growing fastest. Watch whether H2 data shows Philippine volumes recovering. This is market information, not investment, trade or tax advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did UK whisky exports to the Philippines fall in H1 2026?

Volumes fell 70.4% and value fell 57.2%, from a base of £1.3m, according to trade press reports of the FDF snapshot.

What is the tariff on UK whisky in Thailand?

The reported rate is 60%, even though whisky is the leading UK food and drink export to Thailand at £9.7m.

Did total UK whisky exports grow in H1 2026?

Yes. Value rose 2.2% to £2.5bn and volumes rose 5.8%, per Just Drinks.

Sources and Method

This article is an original rewrite from reported figures. We opened the FDF H1 2026 Trade Snapshot summary page (fdf.org.uk, 25 September 2026), The Spirits Business report UK whisky and gin exports up in H1 (25 September 2026, Nicola Carruthers) and the Just Drinks report syndicated by Yahoo Finance (25 September 2026). The country-level whisky figures come from The Spirits Business; the FDF web summary does not list them and we could not open the full PDF, so treat them as reported, not independently confirmed. Opinions and forecasts are attributed to their sources.