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 non-EU countries increased by 16.8% (up £2.1 billion) to £14.6 billion in 2022. UK goods exports to non-EU countries increased by 12.9% over this period and Scotland experienced a comparable increase to other UK nations with the exception of Wales, which saw a 45.8% increase.
When oil and gas are excluded, there was an increase of 25.3% (up £2.9 billion) in goods exports to non-EU countries during this period, which was the second highest percentage increase of all UK nations behind Wales. Over the longer term, Scotland’s increase in exports, excluding oil and gas, was the largest of all UK nations in percentage terms, with a rise of 15.8% in 2022 compared with 2019.
Table 5. The value of Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries 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 |
17.0 |
12.8 |
12.5 |
14.6 |
-14.2% |
13.8% |
16.8% |
|
Scotland (exc. Oil & Gas) |
12.3 |
11.0 |
11.4 |
14.2 |
15.8% |
29.0% |
25.3% |
|
England |
124.2 |
108.0 |
115.9 |
133.6 |
7.6% |
23.8% |
15.3% |
|
Wales |
7.0 |
5.6 |
6.1 |
8.9 |
27.5% |
60.4% |
45.8% |
|
Northern Ireland |
3.7 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.3 |
-12.5% |
10.6% |
13.2% |
|
United Kingdom |
171.8 |
148.0 |
157.4 |
177.8 |
3.5% |
20.1% |
12.9% |
|
United Kingdom (exc. Oil & Gas) |
162.3 |
143.0 |
149.9 |
168.5 |
3.8% |
17.8% |
12.4% |
Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022
The £2.1 billion increase in value of Scotland’s exports to non-EU destinations in 2022 compared to the equivalent period in 2021, was primarily driven by a 45.2% increase in the value of Scotland’s exports of drinks (up £1.3 billion) and power generating machinery (up 37.8%, £551 million). Together these exports accounted for 42.0% of Scotland’s exports to non-EU countries.
Figure 7. Scotland experienced a larger percentage increase in the value of goods exports to non-EU countries than the UK as a whole
Percentage change in goods exports to non-EU countries by UK nation and UK overall, 2022 compared with 2021
Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022
Figure 8. Excluding oil and gas, the value of Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries in 2022 is at the highest point since the time series began in 2013
Value of Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries (yearly), 2013 to 2022
Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022
Figure 9. Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries were dominated by exports of drinks, which accounted for over a quarter of Scotland’s total goods exports to non-EU countries
Scotland's top ten exported products to non-EU countries, 2022
Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022
Table 6. The value of Scotland’s top ten exported goods to non-EU countries, £ billions, 2019-2022
|
Product |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2019 v 2022 change (%) |
2020 v 2022 change (%) |
2021 v 2022 change (%) |
|
Drink |
3,088 |
2,372 |
2,794 |
4,056 |
31.3% |
71.0% |
45.2% |
|
Power generating machinery |
2,164 |
1,665 |
1,457 |
2,007 |
-7.2% |
20.6% |
37.8% |
|
General industrial machinery |
884 |
827 |
904 |
1,003 |
13.4% |
21.2% |
11.0% |
|
Non-ferrous metals |
427 |
684 |
700 |
761 |
78.3% |
11.2% |
8.6% |
|
Professional & scientific instruments |
609 |
537 |
593 |
656 |
7.7% |
22.0% |
10.5% |
|
Chemical materials & products |
340 |
373 |
571 |
546 |
60.4% |
46.3% |
-4.5% |
|
Medicinal & pharmaceutical products |
378 |
319 |
341 |
470 |
24.3% |
47.5% |
37.8% |
|
Other transport equipment |
510 |
968 |
407 |
453 |
-11.2% |
-53.2% |
11.2% |
|
Electrical machinery & appliances |
436 |
349 |
364 |
449 |
2.9% |
28.5% |
23.4% |
|
Specialised machinery |
377 |
383 |
316 |
364 |
-3.4% |
-4.9% |
15.1% |
Source: HMRC RTS, Q4 2022
In 2022 compared to 2021, there were increases in the value of almost all of Scotland’s top ten commodities exported to non-EU countries. Of the top ten exports, only chemical materials and products saw a drop in export value, decreasing by 4.5% (down £25 million) in 2022 compared with 2021. The largest value decrease over this period was in exports of oil, which decreased by £783 million (70.2%).
Over the longer term, there was a decrease in exports of oil (down £4.4 billion, 92.9%), and power generating machinery (down £156 million, 7.2%) to non-EU countries in 2022 compared with 2019. On the other hand, over this period there was strong growth in the value of exports of drinks (up £968 million, 31.3%), non-ferrous metals (up £334 million, 78.3%), and chemical materials (up £205 million, 60.4%) to non-EU destinations.
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