Japan's alcohol exports up 34.5% in July; the Netherlands tops gin

Japan’s National Tax Agency is the government body that handles liquor tax and also supports the alcohol industry. It has published its alcohol export statistics for July 2026. The figures are based on the Ministry of Finance’s trade statistics (confirmed figures) and may be revised later. Even so, they suggest that overseas demand for Japanese drinks has been growing as summer begins.

July up by more than 30% on the previous year

Alcohol exports for July alone came to 15.9 billion yen, up 34.5% on the same month a year earlier. The total for January to July was 102.0 billion yen, up 14.0% on the same period last year. The growth in the single month of July is well above the growth since the start of the year, so exports may accelerate towards the second half of the year. By category, Japanese sake (seishu) totalled 27.3 billion yen for January to July, up 4.1%. Whisky, meanwhile, reached 34.2 billion yen over the same period, exceeding sake exports. Whisky is also a major pillar of exports.

The Netherlands first for gin, third for whisky

For European readers, the standout is the Netherlands as an export destination. It ranked first as a destination for Japanese gin, and it also came third for Japanese whisky. The Netherlands has large ports and airports and is a gateway for European logistics. The figures are therefore thought to include not only what is drunk in the Netherlands itself but also its role as a transit point for drinks that reach the rest of Europe. Many Japanese gins are flavoured with Japanese botanicals such as yuzu (a strongly aromatic Japanese citrus), sansho pepper and green tea. That Japanese gin is being accepted in the Netherlands, one of the homes of gin, may well show that its distinctive style is appreciated.

How to enjoy them in Europe

That so much Japanese alcohol is arriving in the Netherlands may mean more chances to find it in specialist shops and bars in neighbouring countries too. Try a Japanese gin first with tonic to pick out the citrus and botanical aromas, then neat in small sips to compare the differences between brands. With whisky, there is also the classic Japanese serve, the highball (with soda). It is an easy style to pair with food. Sake’s growth rate is modest, but its export value keeps building up. One way in is to pick up a bottle of junmai sake (sake made only from rice, rice koji and water) at a wine shop or Japanese grocery and enjoy it chilled, like a white wine. It will also be worth checking how the Netherlands’ ranking moves in the statistics for August onwards.