Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 143): 13 November 2025

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, 20.6% of trading businesses had exported goods, services or both; and 28.5% of trading businesses had imported goods, services or both.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing type. Businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 143 (20 October to 2 November 2025).

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 143 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 1 data see tables ‘ExportType’ and ‘ImportType’.

Large businesses (250 or more employees) are more likely to be exporters than small to medium sized businesses (10 to 249 employees). An estimated 36.5% of large businesses had exported goods, services or both in the last 12 months, compared to 18.7% of small to medium sized businesses. Large businesses are also more likely to be importers. An estimated 51.2% of large businesses had imported goods services or both in the last 12 months, compared to 25.9% of small to medium sized businesses.

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: 15.1% of exporters exported more in September 2025 than September 2024, and 19.8% exported less. For importers, 11.3% imported more in September 2025 than September 2024, whilst 11.7% imported less.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing change in September 2025 compared to September 2024. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 143 (20 October to 2 November 2025).

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 143 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 2 data see tables ‘ExportingChangeOverYear’ and ‘ImportingChangeOverYear’.

Currently trading businesses that 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: 71.1% of exporters reported exporting to both EU and non-EU destinations in the last three months. A lower share of importers (52.3%) reported importing from both EU and non-EU destinations.

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 143 (20 October to 2 November 2025).

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 143 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 2025 compared with September 2024.

Figure 4: For 42.1% of exporters, the cost of exporting increased in September 2025 compared with September 2024; with 35.6% of importers reporting an increase in the cost of importing over this period.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing cost in September 2025 compared to September 2024. Businesses that 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 143 (20 October to 2 November 2025).

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - Wave 143 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 4 data see tables ‘CostOfExporting’ and ‘CostOfImporting’.

For an estimated 60.1% of exporters the time spent on exporting had stayed the same in September 2025 compared with September 2024. A further 22.9% of exporters saw an increase in time spent on exporting over this period, whereas for 5.0% time spent decreased.

For an estimated 63.6% of importers the time spent on importing had stayed the same in September 2025 compared with September 2024. A further 17.0% of importers saw an increase in time spent importing over this period, whereas for 2.8% time spent decreased.