Scotland’s International Goods Trade: Quarter 1 2023

When comparing the value of exports in the year ending March 2023 with the year ending March 2022:

• The value of Scotland’s international goods exports increased by 21.6% (up £6.6 billion). In comparison, international goods exports from the UK increased by 17.5%.
• When oil and gas are excluded, the value of Scotland’s international goods exports saw an increase of 17.7% (up £3.6 billion), compared to a 13.5% increase for the UK.
• The value of Scotland’s goods exports to the EU increased by 23.7% (up £4.3 billion). When oil and gas are excluded, Scotland’s goods exports to the EU increased by 8.5% (up £745 million).
• The value of Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries increased by 18.6% (up £2.3 billion). When oil and gas are excluded, Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries increased by 24.7% (up £2.9 billion).
• The Netherlands remained Scotland’s top destination for goods exports in the year ending March 2023. Exports to the Netherlands accounted for 19% of Scotland’s total goods exports in this period and increased by £1.3 billion (22.9%) from the previous year.
• When oil and gas are excluded, USA emerged as the top export destination for goods exports, and France was the second largest destination for goods exports.
• The value of Scotland’s goods imports increased by just over a quarter (up 26.8%, £7.6 billion). An important contributor to this was imports of gas.
• Total trade (imports plus exports) increased by 24.1%. The value of goods trade with EU countries rose by 28.3%, and goods trade with non-EU countries increased by 20.7%.