Scottish leader sees growth for whisky sales in China

HONG KONG: With Scotch whisky exports to China soaring, Scottish leader Alex Salmond said Friday his country's most iconic product is poised to become the next big thing in China's luxury market.

The first minister visited the mainland and Hong Kong this week to promote Scotland's famous malts and its largest export, fresh farmed salmon, to China's rapidly expanding fine dining industry.

He said Scotland could better France's Bordeaux region, which saw a 92 percent surge in wine export volumes to China in the 12 months to July, as China's rising affluence creates new markets for Western luxury goods.

"Whisky sales are up 35 percent this year to China," Salmond told AFP in an interview in the southern city of Hong Kong, the last stop of his China trip.

"If you take a couple of our iconic products together, Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon, then it's a billion RMB ($157 million) this year, an increase of well over a third for the two products together." Wine imports to China are poised to set a new record after surging nearly 60 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2011 to US$940 million.

In the world of fine malt liquor, Salmond said Scotland had an unbeatable advantage -- its single malt Scotch whisky was unique, respected for the finest quality and simply the best product of its kind on the market.

"I think we've got a great platform to advance to the growing quality market in China," he said.

"People look for quality and authenticity and Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon are iconic products which offer that." Strengthening trade with the Asian region in general is a key focus of his government, he said.

The economy looms large over discussions about an independent Scotland, which have stepped up a gear after the resounding victory of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in May's election to the devolved Edinburgh parliament.

The triumph of the pro-independence SNP, which won the first overall majority in the legislature since it opened in 1999, has paved the way for a referendum on a split from Britain which had previously seemed unlikely. AFP