The value of Irish whiskey exports saw a significant decline in 2025, dropping by 5% to €930 million (approximately $1.1 billion) according to Bord Bia, the trade body for Irish food and drink. This downturn occurred amidst challenging market conditions, particularly in the US, where import tariffs and a devaluation of the dollar impacted sales.

Bord Bia’s report revealed that Irish whiskey accounted for 45% of all drinks exported from Ireland. The anticipated tariffs, which were enacted in August 2025, led to stockpiling of whiskey in the previous year, contributing to a harsher trading environment as the year evolved. The broader American alcohol market continued to face pressure, disrupting the trend of premium products that has been characteristic of recent years.

In Europe, Germany remained the largest market for Irish whiskey, with stable exports to France and slight decreases noted in sales to Poland and the UK. The UK experienced lower sales as factors such as competitive market conditions, increased stock levels, and reduced consumer spending affected demand.

Further compounding issues, exports of Irish gin fell significantly by 14%, as the market began to rationalize the number of brands available. Notably, despite the drop in whiskey and gin exports, Irish cream liqueurs observed a 10% growth to €430 million, benefiting from premiumization trends in markets like the UK and North America.

Additionally, the overall value of Irish beer exports rose by 7% to around €350 million. Nevertheless, exports to the UK were down by 14%, while shipments to EU markets surged 21%, with France leading in terms of value.

Total Irish drinks exports reached €2 billion in 2025, marking a 2% increase from the previous year, while the total value of Irish food, drink, and horticulture exports grew by 12% to €19 billion. Bord Bia remains cautiously optimistic for the coming year, predicting a transition period with improved market conditions in the US and an influx of new Irish exporters in growing markets like India, Japan, China, and South Africa.