Scotland’s International Goods Trade: Quarter 4 2022

This report contains trade in goods data from the latest release of HMRC's Regional Trade Statistics (RTS).


Compared to 2021, the value of Scotland’s goods exports to the EU in 2022 showed strong growth, increasing by over a quarter (28.6%, up £4.7 billion) to £21.1 billion. The value of goods exports from the UK to the EU experienced a 35.8% increase over this period, and Scotland’s percentage increase was larger than that of any other UK country and the UK overall. When oil and gas are excluded, the value of Scotland’s goods exports to the EU experienced a smaller increase of 13.8% in 2022 compared with 2021, which is similar to the 14.2% increase experienced by the UK.

Over the longer term, the value of Scotland’s good exports to EU countries increased by 26.2% (up £4.4 billion) in 2022 compared with 2019. This was greater than the 15.0% increase experienced by the UK and was larger than for any of the other UK nations. When oil and gas are excluded, the value of Scotland’s international goods exports to EU countries increased by 24.3% in 2022 compared with 2019, which is greater than the 4.9% increase experienced by the UK excluding oil and gas.

Table 3. The value of Scotland’s goods exports to the EU by UK nation, £ billions, 2019-2022

UK Nation

2019

2020

2021

2022

2019 v 2022 change (%)

2020 v 2022 change (%)

2021 v 2022 change (%)

Scotland

16.7

13.8

16.4

21.1

26.2%

53.6%

28.6%

Scotland (exc. Oil & Gas)

7.6

7.4

8.3

9.4

24.3%

28.3%

13.8%

England

123.7

104.5

110.5

133.6

8.1%

27.9%

20.9%

Wales

10.8

8.0

9.1

11.6

7.7%

45.4%

27.5%

Northern Ireland

5.4

4.9

5.1

5.9

9.6%

20.5%

16.5%

United Kingdom

168.5

142.6

154.3

193.7

15.0%

35.8%

25.6%

United Kingdom (exc. Oil & Gas)

146.3

127.1

134.4

153.5

4.9%

20.8%

14.2%

Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022

The increase in value of Scotland’s exports to the EU in 2022 compared to 2021, was primarily driven by an increase in the value of Scotland’s exports of oil and gas to the EU (collectively up £3.5 billion, 43.7%). However, the net mass of oil and gas exported actually decreased by 10.5% over this period, which suggests that an increase in the price of these commodities may have contributed to this large increase in export value.

Figure 4. Scotland saw the largest percentage increase in the value of goods exports to the EU of all the UK nations

Percentage change in goods exports to EU countries by UK nation and UK overall, 2022 compared with 2021

Bar chart showing the percentage change in goods exports to EU countries by UK nation and UK overall, 2022 compared with 2021

Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022

Figure 5. The value of Scotland’s goods exports to EU countries is now higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Value of Scotland's goods exports to EU countries (yearly), 2013 to 2022

Line chart showing the value of Scotland’s goods exports to EU countries (yearly), 2013 to 2022Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022

Exports of other goods to the EU also performed strongly in 2022 compared with 2021. There were value increases in exports of drinks (up £271 million, 19.5%), general industrial machinery (up £182 million, 35.3%), and power generating machinery (up £173 million, 28.2%). Of the top ten goods exported to the EU, only exports of chemical materials & products experienced a decrease over this period (down £51 million, 9.3%).

Exports of oil, gas, and drinks accounted for almost two thirds (63%) of the value of Scotland’s total goods exports to the EU in 2022.

Table 4. The value of Scotland’s top ten exported goods to the EU, £ millions, 2019-2022

Product

2019

2020

2021

2022

2019 v 2022 change (%)

2020 v 2022 change (%)

2021 v 2022 change (%)

Oil

8,717

6,026

6,428

8,345

-4.3%

38.5%

29.8%

Gas

419

354

1,700

3,332

694.6%

840.8%

96.0%

Drink

1,391

1,224

1,391

1,662

19.5%

35.7%

19.5%

Fish and shellfish

777

709

786

832

7.0%

17.3%

5.8%

Power generating machinery

308

230

615

789

155.7%

243.4%

28.2%

General industrial machinery

499

434

517

699

40.3%

61.0%

35.3%

Chemical materials & products

340

365

547

496

45.9%

35.8%

-9.3%

Other transport equipment

185

584

302

389

110.6%

-33.3%

28.8%

Medicinal & pharmaceutical products

333

391

362

369

10.7%

-5.6%

2.0%

Electrical machinery & appliances

362

335

299

369

1.8%

10.2%

23.2%

Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022

Figure 6. Oil was the top good exported to the EU, accounting for 40% of the value of Scotland’s goods exports to EU countries in 2022

Scotland's top ten exported products to the EU, 2022

Bar chart showing Scotland’s top ten exported products to the EU, 2022Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022

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