Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a major player in the global liquor market, with record growth in production, exports, and new investments.
According to SK Shukla, president of the UP Distillery Association, the state’s liquor industry has expanded significantly in recent years. The number of distilleries has grown from 61 in 2017-18 to 85 in 2022-23, and their total capacity has more than doubled—from 170 billion litres to 348 billion litres. In the last year alone, 18 new distilleries began operations, while 20 more are under construction.
Exports have also seen a big jump, rising by 155% in five years. UP’s liquor exports went up from 292 million litres in 2017-18 to 743 million litres in 2022-23, reaching 38 countries worldwide.
Industry experts credit this growth to government reforms such as e-governance, faster clearances through a single-window system, and reduced export duty on ENA, which helped boost investor confidence.
With support from APEDA and the “Made in UP” branding campaign, experts expect exports to cross 1,000 million litres by 2026—firmly establishing UP on the global liquor map.
