Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has recorded a sharp increase in liquor exports, with shipments growing nearly 90% year-on-year in July 2026, significantly outpacing the national average. Officials attributed the strong performance to the state’s three-year Excise Export Policy 2026-29, which aims to strengthen the state’s position as a major hub for liquor production and exports.
According to official data, Uttar Pradesh’s bottled liquor exports reached $55.2 lakh in July 2026, registering an 89.7% year-on-year increase from $29.1 lakh in July 2025. In comparison, India’s overall liquor exports grew by 25.7% during the same period, making Uttar Pradesh’s growth more than three times the national rate.
The strong export performance also increased Uttar Pradesh’s share of India’s monthly bottled liquor shipments from 8.3% to 12.5%. The state ranked third nationally, behind Maharashtra and Punjab, in terms of its share of monthly liquor exports.
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Whisky and vodka exports also recorded substantial growth during the month. Whisky exports increased by 78.8%, while vodka exports doubled, rising 100% compared with July 2025. In volume terms, Uttar Pradesh’s liquor exports jumped 230%, significantly higher than the 90% growth recorded nationally during the same period.
The state’s cumulative export performance has also strengthened. Between April and July 2026, Uttar Pradesh’s liquor exports reached $183 lakh, compared with $117 lakh during the corresponding period a year earlier. This represents an increase of $66 lakh and additional foreign exchange earnings for the state.
The state has also expanded its export network during the period. The number of active export lines increased from 29 to 39, while operational departure ports rose from seven to 10. The expansion is expected to provide producers with greater access to international markets and improve the movement of liquor consignments from Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal said the increase in liquor production and exports was also creating demand for raw materials within the state. Higher production has boosted demand for molasses from sugar mills and grains from local farmers, strengthening linkages between the liquor industry, agriculture and the sugar sector. The minister also noted that units defaulting on sugarcane payments would not be eligible to claim incentives under the policy.
Excise Commissioner Adarsh Singh said the growth was not limited to export value. Bottled liquor shipments recorded a 55.2% increase, even as national volumes declined by 11.7%, according to the figures cited by officials. The expansion in exports is also generating activity across allied sectors, including glass manufacturing, packaging, labelling, logistics and freight services.
The latest figures indicate that Uttar Pradesh’s Excise Export Policy 2026-29 is beginning to influence the state’s liquor export ecosystem, with higher shipments, increased export routes and growing participation from allied industries. The government is now looking to build on this momentum and further expand Uttar Pradesh’s presence in international liquor markets.
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