This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Scottish manufacturing exports increase
23/01/2002
The increase in Scottish Manufacturing Export figures was welcomed today by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, Wendy Alexander.
Despite the current global downturn, export sales in Scotland rose by 9.4% over the year to 2001 Q3 (July to September).
Ms Alexander said:
"The continued year on year rise in the value of Scottish exports is good news. The last few months has seen a period of great uncertainty with a slowdown in the global economy. Scotland cannot be immune from such developments and we recognise that trading conditions for many manufacturing companies in recent months have been difficult.
"The Executive is fully committed to manufacturing. The creation of Scottish Development International introduces a new approach based on taking Scottish products and ideas to the World.
"It will take forward not only the delivery of traditional forms of export activity but also a whole range of new partnerships between Scotland and the rest of the world built on knowledge, skills and ideas. This is vital to ensure that Scotland engages with the global economy in new ways."
Over the last five years, some £500m in Regional Selective Assistance has been offered towards projects in the manufacturing sector in Scotland; these offers are linked to some £4 billion of planned investment by companies, and the planned creation and safeguarding of some 60,000 jobs.
The level of export sales by the manufacturing sector increased by 9.4 per cent in real terms in the year to 2001 Q3, compared with the previous four quarters. In current prices, there was an increase of 5.9 per cent.
In 2001 Q3, the level of export sales decreased by 5.9 per cent in real terms, compared with the previous quarter. In current prices, there was a decrease of 5.0 per cent.
Total manufactured exports (in current prices and seasonally adjusted) were £4.496 billion in 2001 Q3, compared with £4.733 billion in the previous quarter.
In 2001 Q3, the Electrical and Instrument Engineering sector accounted for £2.557 billion, or 57 per cent.
In current prices, the sectors with the largest increases in the year to 2001 Q3, compared with the previous 4 quarters (to 2000 Q3), were Electrical & Instrument Engineering (16 per cent), Textiles, Footwear, Leather & Clothing (13 per cent) and Paper, Printing & Publishing (5 per cent). The largest decreases were in Metals & Metal Products (16 per cent), Transport Equipment (11 per cent) and Chemicals & Man-made Fibres (9 per cent).