BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 107

Exporting and Importing

The BICS asks businesses that are currently trading about exporting and importing over the last 12 months.

Figure 1: In the last 12 months, 19.6% of trading businesses had exported goods, services or both; this figure was 27.2% for businesses reporting they had imported.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing type. Businesses currently trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 107.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 107 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 1 data see tables ‘ExportType’ and ‘ImportType’.

Currently trading businesses that have exported or imported in the last 12 months, were asked how exporting/importing has changed over the last year.

Question: How did your business's exporting/importing compare with this calendar month last year?

• exported/imported more
• exporting/importing stayed the same
• exported/imported less
• business was unable to export / import
• not sure

Figure 2: Of businesses currently trading that have exported in the last 12 months, 21.8% reported exporting less in March 2024 compared to March 2023, and 19.3% reported exporting more. An estimated 8.3% of applicable businesses have imported less in March 2024 compared to March 2023, and 15.4% have imported more.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing change in March 2024 compared to March 2023. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 107.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 107 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 2 data see tables ‘ExportingChangeOverYear’ and ‘ImportingChangeOverYear’.

Currently trading businesses who had exported/imported in the last 12 months were asked where they exported/imported goods or services to/from in the last 3 months.

Figure 3: An estimated 64.3% of exporters reported exporting to both EU and non-EU destinations in the last 3 months. A lower share of importers (55.1%) reported importing from EU and non-EU destinations in the last 3 months.

Estimated share of businesses by export / import location in the last 3 months. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 107.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 107 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 3 data see tables ‘ExportWhere’ and ‘ImportWhere’.

Businesses were also asked about the cost of exporting/importing and time spent on exporting/importing in March 2024 compared with March 2023.

Figure 4: An estimated 45.2% of exporters reported that the cost of exporting has increased in March 2024 compared with March 2023.  A similar share of importers (42.7%) reported that the cost of importing has increased over this period.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing cost in March 2024 compared to March 2023. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months and report their exporting/ importing change in the last year, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 107.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 107 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 4 data see tables ‘CostOfExporting’ and ‘CostOfImporting’.

Over half (56.2%) of exporters reported that time spent on exporting had stayed the same in March 2024 compared with March 2023.  An estimated 21.7% of exporters reported that time spent on exporting has increased over this period.

An estimated 65.0% of importers reported that the time spent on importing has stayed the same in March 2024 compared with March 2023.  A further 20.1% of importers reported that time spent on importing has increased over this period.