Exports to the Far East were up almost a third in the first half of the year, said the Scotch Whisky Association.

The association revealed the value of Far East markets had risen by more than 20% and that volume had gone up 32.8%.

In South Korea shipments grew by almost 40% in volume - the equivalent of 6.4 million bottles - and more than 30% by value to �80.5m.

Other figures in the association's report include:

• Japanese market volume grew by more than 14.5m bottles, but low value bulk shipments meant the increase in value was only �13m

• exports to the European Union were up 7.9% on last year - 14.3m bottles - delivering a 4.9% increase in value to �16m

• in the UK, volumes rose by 4.3% to 46m bottles

• overall worldwide exports enjoyed double-digit growth, climbing 11.2% in volume and 10.3% in value.

The association said export trade was lower than normal early last year as retailers ran down their millennium stocks.

Taking this into account, they said a more representative figure would be that from June 2000 to June 2001, which puts volume up 8% and value up 6%.