GLENCAIRN Crystal is on course to achieve another year of strong growth as the whisky firms it supplies with decanters achieve continued success overseas despite widely reported problems in China.

The crack down on extravagance and slowdown in growth in the Asian powerhouse has been accompanied by a sharp drop in the sales of western status symbols such as Scotch.

However, East Kilbride-based Glencairn increased sales by 6.2 per cent in the first nine months of the latest financial year putting it on track to maintain a record of growth stretching back years.

The company’s experience suggests the boom in the popularity of Scotch around the world has some way to run even if sales are slowing in some countries.

Director Scott Davidson said demand from whisky firms for products such as engraved decanters has increased.

“It’s getting busier all the time,” he said.

Mr Davidson said Scotch distillers were less exposed to a slowdown in China than Cognac producers, which have been established in the country longer.

The whisky firms Glencairn works with are still enjoying success in other markets.

“Scotch whisky said we don’t need to do all of our business in China where it’s really hard and there’s a long term goal; we’ll go to Vietnam, we’ll go to Cambodia, we’ll go everywhere else,” said Mr Davidson.

The finance expert has been in the USA closing in on a deal that could provide a big boost for Glencairn’s business in the country.

He reckons the long term dynamics of the Scotch market still appear to be good with globalisation resulting in growing numbers of people getting a taste for whisky. Many are ready to pay for premium varieties such as aged malts sold in the kind of decanters Glencairn supplies to mark them out as special.

The family-owned business has helped a range of firms develop premium products by designing special engraved decanters with silver accessories for some of the costlier products.

“The blips are going to come but the long term strategy is still about premiumisation. People who have got money are prepared to pay that bit more for the privilege,” said Mr Davidson, who noted that firms across the sector are following a similar approach.

“From Diageo all the way through, for Johnnie Walker Blue and all the rest of it we’re getting asked to do all the specials. It’s a lovely time for us.”

The company’s success shows how the benefits of the whisky boom are rippling through the supply chain.

“Everyone gets the margin down the line and the investment can be made to support it,” said Mr Davidson.

The growth has allowed Glencairn to provide a boost for the local job market. The company employs 54 people in areas ranging from engraving to sales.

Glencairn has increased employee numbers from around 40 to 54 in the last 18 months, with grant support under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme.

“We said we were going to go from 40 a year and a half ago to 59 in three years and I think we’re going to crack it in two,” said Mr Davidson.

Directors believe the company can increase sales to more than £10m within five years, from £6.7m in the year to 30 April.

Glencairn sees big scope to grow its business in the USA. The company sends more than a million of the special glasses it designed for drinking whisky from to the country annually.

It was founded by Mr Davidson’s father Raymond in 1981. He left the former Edinburgh Crystal business to focus on the corporate market because he thought there was a limited future for the retail trade.

Scott’s brothers Paul and Andy are also directors.

Diageo and Pernod Ricard, which produce Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal respectively, have recently reported a big drop in Scotch sales in China. However, the country accounts for only a small part of their whisky businesses.

The value of Scotch whisky exports fell three per cent in the first six months of 2015 to £1.7 billion.

Exports to China grew by 46 per cent, but to just £22m.

Consumption in other places suffered as a result of wider economic factors such as the recession in Brazil. Sanctions against Russia impacted on exports to the country.