The value of Scottish exports increased 11.3% from £71.8 billion in 2020 to £79.9 billion in 2021, according to the Export Statistics Scotland 2021 report from Scotland’s Chief Statistician.
Despite the rise, this is still lower than the exports of £82 billion that was recorded in pre-pandemic 2019.
Scottish exports to the rest of the UK in 2021 accounted for 61% of the overall total at £48.6 billion.
International exports from Scotland in 2021 were valued at £31.3 billion – with almost £15 billion going to countries in the European Union and £16.3 billion to other overseas countries.
In 2021, the value of Scotland’s exports to the EU comprised 48% of international exports and was 11.7% lower than in 2019.
“The figures exclude exports of oil and gas extracted from the UK Continental shelf,” said the Scottish Government.
“However, exports of services provided to the offshore oil and gas industry are included in the exports to the rest of the UK figures.”
The value of Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK was 4% higher in 2021 compared to 2019.
This was driven by strong growth in the value of Scotland’s “utilities” exports to the rest of the UK, which increased by 44.9% (£1.6 billion) between 2019 and 2021.
The United States remained Scotland’s largest international export destination, accounting for 16% of Scotland’s international export value in 2021.
There was a value decrease in international exports of “financial and insurance activities” (30.4%), and “transportation and storage” (33.8%) between 2019 and 2021.
Manufacturing accounted for 53% of Scotland’s international exports in 2021, compared to 24% of Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK.
In contrast, 55% of the value Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK came from exports of services, compared to 39% for international exports.
In 2021, international exports of “food, beverages and tobacco” were valued at an estimated £6.1 billion and accounted for a fifth of Scotland’s international exports.
The value of exports for this sector fell by 19.1% (£1.3 billion) in 2020 and much of this was driven by a £1.2 billion fall in the value of exports of spirits. In 2021, the value of “food, beverages and tobacco” exports showed some recovery but remained below pre-pandemic levels (7.7% less than 2019) .
“Professional, scientific and technical activities” was the second largest sector, valuing at £3.7 billion and accounting for 12% of the value of Scotland’s international exports.
“Financial and insurance activities” was the largest industry sector for exports to the rest of the UK in 2021. This sector was valued at an estimated £9.2 billion and accounted for 19% of Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK. “Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles” was the second largest export sector, valuing £6.7 billion in 2021. Together. these two service industries accounted for a third of the value of Scotland’s export to the rest of the UK.
The value of exports to both of these sectors dropped in 2020, but in 2021 they broadly returned to pre-pandemic levels (2019).
“Utilities” was the third largest sector for exports to the rest of the UK in 2021.
“Between 2019 and 2021, the estimated value of international exports of ‘financial and insurance activities’ decreased by £820 million (30.4%),” said the report.
“The value of these exports experienced a large drop in 2020 and then remained relatively stable in 2021. This decline in international exports of ‘financial and insurance activities’ in 2020 was primarily driven by exports to non-EU destinations, which dropped by over a third (down 37.7%, £695 million).
“As a result, these exports to non-EU destinations experienced the largest drop in export value among sectors exporting internationally between 2019 and 2021 (down 38.2%, £705 million).”