BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 119

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, 20.3% of trading businesses had exported goods, services or both; and 28.8% of trading businesses had imported goods and/or services.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing type. Businesses currently trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 119.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 119 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.

Figure 2: Of businesses currently trading that have exported in the last 12 months, 21.9% reported exporting more in September 2024 compared to September 2023, and 20.8% reported exporting less. An estimated 14.8% of applicable businesses imported more in September 2024 compared to September 2023, and 13.0% imported less.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing change in September 2024 compared to September 2023. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 119.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 119 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 71.9% of exporters reported exporting to both EU and non-EU destinations in the last three months. A lower share of importers (59.7%) reported importing from EU and non-EU destinations in the last three months.

Estimated share of businesses by export / import location in the last three months. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 119.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 119 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 September 2024 compared with September 2023.

Figure 4: An estimated 31.5% of exporters reported that the cost of exporting increased in September 2024 compared with September 2023.  A higher share of importers (42.7%) reported that the cost of importing increased over this period.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing cost in September 2024 compared to September 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 119.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 119 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 4 data see tables ‘CostOfExporting’ and ‘CostOfImporting’.

For exporters, 64.2% reported that the time spent on exporting had stayed the same in September 2024 compared with September 2023. A further 18.0% of exporters reported that time spent on exporting increased over this period.

For importers, 66.5% reported that the time spent on importing had stayed the same in September 2024 compared with September 2023. A further 17.2% of importers reported that time spent on importing increased over this period.