Home breadcru News breadcru Import/Exports breadcru 1.2% rise in manufactured exports

1.2% rise in manufactured exports

07 Nov '07
3 min read

Scottish manufactured exports grew by 1.2 per cent to £15billion in 2006 according to figures published by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI). This builds on a 0.5 per cent increase in 2005, but is still down significantly on the figure of almost £20billion recorded in 2000.

Disappointingly, the value of electronics sales continues to decline, down from £10.8billion in 1997 to £5.8billion in 2006, but it is still far and away the country's biggest seller, accounting for 40 per cent of foreign sales.

An impressive 8 per cent increase in the rest of the manufacturing sector has countered the overall decline and resulted in two successive years of growth after five consecutive declines in annual output from 1999 to 2004.

Although the USA continues to be the largest single overseas market, the European Union continues to be the destination for over half of exported goods, with Germany, France and the Netherlands the biggest markets. And despite the huge interest and growth in the Chinese and Indian economies in recent times, exports to Asia have actually declined in the last two years.

Expansion has come from more overlooked areas, with Latin America and Africa now accounting for over £1billion of trade for the first time - 6 per cent of the total value.

Commenting on the figures, SCDI's Chief Executive Alan Wilson said: “Scotland's manufacturing sector has long faced global challenges but these latest export figures confirm that rumours of the death of Scotland's manufacturing sector have been much exaggerated."

“The increase in overall trade and the strong performance of many sectors, show that Scots-based manufacturers can compete in the global market, despite competition from the emerging economies of Asia and Eastern Europe. The figures are all the more pleasing when the strength of sterling is taken into account."

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