Editing Single malt Scotch (section)

===Economic benefits===
The Scotch Whisky Association estimated in 2019 that Scotland's whisky industry supported 40,000 jobs. The industry's contribution to the economy of the UK was estimated as £5.5&nbsp;billion in 2018; the industry provided £3.8&nbsp;billion in direct GVA (gross value added) to Scotland. Whisky tourism has also become significant and accounts for £68.3&nbsp;million per year. 

One factor may have negatively affected sales, an extra 3.9% duty on spirits imposed by the UK in 2017. By 2020, another factor may affect exports: the 25% increase in tariffs imposed by the U.S. in October 2019.<ref name="report-2018">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/newsroom/scotch-whisky-economic-impact-report-2018/|title=Scotch Whisky Economic Impact Report 2018|website=Scotch Whisky Association}}</ref> By year-end 2017, however, exports totaled a record-breaking £4.37&nbsp;billion, an increase of 8.9% over 2016. Of that total, single malt Scotch accounted for £1.17&nbsp;billion in exports, a 14% increase over 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-10/scotland-s-next-wave-of-whisky-distilleries |title=Scotland's Next Wave of Whisky Distilleries |date=10 September 2018|publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=11 January 2020 }}</ref><ref name="report-2018"/>

Exports in 2018 again increased, by 7.8% by value, and 3.6% in number of bottles, in spite of the duty imposed in 2017; exports grew to a record level, £4.7&nbsp;billion. The US tariffs were not yet in place at that time, however.<ref name="exports-rise">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/newsroom/scotch-whisky-exports-on-the-up-in-2018/|title=Scotch Whisky Exports rise in 2018|website=Scotch Whisky Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47211794|title=Scotch whisky exports reach record high|work=BBC News|date=12 February 2019}}</ref> Of the total exports in 2018, single malt accounted for £1.3&nbsp;billion.<ref name="exports-rise"/>

Whisky tourism has also become significant and accounts for £68.3&nbsp;million per year; the percentage contribution to this industry by single malt Scotch distilleries, however, has not been released. The tourism has been a real plus to the economy, and of significant value especially in remote rural areas, according to Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs. "The Scottish Government is committed to working with partners like the [[Scotch Whisky Association]] to increase our tourism offer and encourage more people to visit our distilleries," the Secretary added.<ref>[https://insidethecask.com/2019/06/21/9348/ Record Number of Visitors for Scotch Distilleries]</ref><ref>[https://scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/26192/scotch-whisky-tourism-at-all-time-high/ Scotch whisky tourism at all-time high]</ref>