This document is also available in .pdf format by clicking here.
The tables are available in Excel format by clicking here.
Introduction
This Statistical Bulletin presents the main results of Scotland's Global Connections Survey for 2008. This is the only export survey covering all sectors of the Scottish economy. Figures are not adjusted for inflation. Companies provided financial and sales information relating to 2008. International exports are shown by industry and destination and comparisons are made with the value of Scottish exports from 2004 onwards. This release incorporates significant revisions to data in Food and Drink, Manufacture of Coke, Refined Petroleum Products, Financial Intermediation, and Wholesale, Retail and Hotels.
Key points
- Scottish international exports in 2008 (excluding oil and gas) are provisionally estimated at £20.7 billion, of which £14 billion is attributable to manufacturing sector companies. This represents an increase in overall exports of £1.7 billion since 2007, due to a rise in the manufacturing sector of £935 million and a rise in the service sector of £715 million.
- The top 5 exporting industries in 2008 were chemicals (including refined petroleum products) (£3.5 billion), food & beverages (£3.4 billion), business services (£2.3 billion), the wholesale, retail & accommodation sector (£1.4 billion) and manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere classified (£1.4 billion). Together these industries accounted for well over half of total exports from Scotland.
- The USA continues to be Scotland's top export destination with an estimated £3.1 billion of exports in 2008, an increase of £325 million since 2007. Exports to Netherlands decreased by £40 million in 2008, estimated to be worth £1.6 billion making it Scotland's second top export destination.
- An estimated £9.5 billion of all Scottish exports were destined for the EU. Within the EU, Netherlands was the largest market, followed by France (£1.5 billion exports in 2008).
- The top five export markets (USA, Netherlands, France, Germany and Spain) accounted for £8.6 billion of exports (41% of all exports) from Scotland.