China’s whisky market is still 85% imported, while domestic distilling expands with 64 producers and four major production areas.
China’s whisky market remains dominated by imported brands, which account for 85% of the market, even as domestic distilling capacity continues to expand, according to a new industry report.
The China Whisky Industry Development Report was released on September 19th during the 2026 Whisky Culture Exchange Conference and the third Qiandao Lake Whisky Carnival in Hangzhou, in east China’s Zhejiang Province.
The report, released by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, says China now has 64 whisky producers. Their actual distilling capacity reached 70,000 kilolitres in 2026, while designed capacity stands at 130,000 kilolitres. In the longer term, the industry has planned capacity of 300,000 kilolitres.
At present, China’s whisky industry has four major production areas: Qionglai and Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, Chun’an in Zhejiang Province, and Dali in Yunnan Province.
Qionglai has the largest production capacity among the four, while Chun’an has the highest concentration of whisky distilleries.
However, imported whisky still accounts for the vast majority of the Chinese market. The report attributes this to the established brands and flavour profiles of imported products. Domestic whisky currently holds a 15% market share.
Meanwhile, whisky consumption in China is concentrated in major cities. Consumers in first- and second-tier cities account for nearly 80% of total consumption, according to the report.
The top 10 cities by whisky consumption are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Foshan, Hangzhou, Dalian and Nanjing.
The report also highlights how Chinese consumers drink whisky. Home drinking accounts for 85% of consumption occasions, making it the largest consumption setting. Dining accounts for 21.6%.
As domestic production expands, Chinese whisky is entering a market where imported products still hold a clear lead. At the same time, new distilleries and production bases are emerging in different parts of the country.
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