THE BenRiach Distillery Company has seen turnover rise by £8.3 million in export markets outside the United Kingdom and Europe, writes Scott Wright.

Accounts newly available at Companies House show the owner of the BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh single malts lifted "rest of world" sales to £20.5m for the year ended December 31.

The export boost came as the company, owned by Billy Walker, Geoff Bell and Wayne Kieswetter, saw sales increase in Europe to £5.6m from £3.8m, and narrow in the UK to £9.2m from £9.27m.

Staff costs increased to £4.2m from £3.8m, with directors' remuneration rising to £100,620 from £80,513.

Reporting a 116 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £8.9m last month, BenRiach cited Taiwan as its number one market.