This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Latest manufactured export figures
04/04/2007
Scottish manufactured export sales increased by 2.2 per cent in real terms in 2006 Q4 and grew by 3.2 per cent over the year to 2006 Q4, according to estimates published today by the Executive.
The main findings are:
- Scottish manufactured export sales increased by 2.2 per cent in real terms in 2006 Q4 and grew by 3.2 per cent over the year to 2006 Q4
- Over the quarter, the main industry driving the increase in manufactured export sales was drink with a quarterly increase of 9.2 per cent, followed by electrical and instrument engineering (+2.5 per cent) and metals and metal products (+4.3 per cent). The main industries showing decline in real terms were chemicals (-4.6 per cent), textiles, fur and leather (-9.0 per cent), transport equipment (-1.7 per cent) and wood, paper and publishing (-1.0 per cent)
- Over the year, electrical and instrument engineering and metal products were the main industries contributing to the growth in manufactured export sales with annual growth of 2.7 per cent and 27.8 per cent respectively. Other industries showing annual growth in exports were drink (2.3 per cent), transport equipment (+9.6 per cent) and mechanical engineering (+9.1 per cent). The main industry showing a decline in manufactured export sales in real terms over the year was wood, paper and publishing, with an annual decline of 16.9 per cent. Food and tobacco also fell over the year (-9.4 per cent)
- Excluding the electrical and instrument engineering industry, which is Scotland's largest exporting sector, manufactured exports increased by 2.1 per cent in 2006 Q4 and increased by 3.4 per cent over the year to 2006 Q4
Longer Term Trends
- Over 1995 Q1 to 2000 Q4, the index of manufactured exports exhibited a period of strong growth (1.9 per cent average quarterly growth) which was followed by a sustained period of decline from 2000 Q4 (3.6 per cent average quarterly decline 2000Q4-2003Q3). Since the end of 2004, there has been some evidence of modest growth in manufactured export sales
- The growth and decline in manufactured exports over the period 1995-2004 is largely explained by the electrical and instrument engineering sector which grew by 124.5 per cent 1995 Q1 to 2000 Q4 and fell by 65.9 per cent 2000 Q4 to 2004 Q4
- At its peak, in 2000, the electrical and instrument engineering sector accounted for 58 per cent of Scotland's manufactured exports. This industry remains Scotland's largest exporting sector and accounted for 34 per cent of Scotland's total manufactured exports in 2006