China is set to surpass Japan as the world's second-largest spirits market by value next year, Bloomberg reported, citing Diageo, the world's biggest distiller. Diageo, the maker of Smirnoff vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky, has altered its strategy to commit more resources to developing regions including Asia, where the British company raised spirits sales 15% in its latest fiscal year, the agency reported. Total net sales of spirits in China will come to US$11.32 billion this year, Diageo estimates. The US spirits market is the world's biggest by value, according to Diageo. China will be the world's 10th-biggest market for Scotch this year, rising from 16th last year and 34th in 2003.
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