28 December 2012 Last updated at 11:24 ET

Second 'Golden age' for Scots whisky industry

The demand for Scottish whisky means the industry now supports around 36,000 jobs

The Scotch whisky industry generates more than £4bn per year, according to new research.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) commissioned the analysis for its 100th anniversary.

It said the industry is in a "second golden age", following the rapid growth also seen in the 1970s.

The report concluded that productivity in distilling is more than 50% higher than workers in the City of London, at £275,000 per head.

The industry also supports around 36,000 jobs.

Of the £4.2bn calculated value, £1.3bn is spent on the supply chain and a further £2.9bn is value added by the industry itself.

Enviable position

Gavin Hewitt, SWA chief executive, said: "This new research is further evidence of the key role Scotch whisky plays in the Scottish economy.

"The demand for Scotch Whisky is coming increasingly from the world's fastest growing markets.

"In comparison with other Scottish industries, Scotch whisky already enjoys an enviable export position across a wide spread of emerging economies.

"The report shows Scotch whisky is likely to play an increasingly important role in Scotland's export markets.

"The momentum of growth needs to be better nurtured by both the UK and Scottish Governments. Scotch whisky underpins their ambitions for export-led recovery."