Business Insights and Conditions in Scotland (wave 155): 14 May 2026

Exporting and Importing

The BICS asks businesses that are currently trading about exporting and importing over the last 12 months.

Figure 2: In the last 12 months, 19.9% of trading businesses had exported goods, services or both; and 34.3% of trading businesses had imported goods, services or both.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing type. Businesses currently trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 155 (20 April to 3 May 2026) .

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 155 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 2 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 39.0% of large businesses had exported goods, services or both in the last 12 months, compared to 17.8% of small to medium sized businesses. Large businesses are also more likely to be importers. An estimated 55.3% of large businesses had imported goods services or both in the last 12 months, compared to 32.1% 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 3: 21.5% of exporters exported more in March 2026 than March 2025, and 16.0% exported less. For importers, 11.1% imported more in March 2026 than March 2025, whilst 9.8% imported less.

Estimated share of businesses by exporting / importing change in March 2026 compared to March 2025. Businesses currently trading and exported / imported in last 12 months, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 155 (20 April to 3 May 2026).

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 155 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 3 data see tables ‘ExportingChangeOverYear’ and ‘ImportingChangeOverYear’.

Figure 4: For 51.6% of exporters, the cost of exporting increased in March 2026 compared with March 2025; up from 34.8% in the year to December 2025. For 36.6% of importers, the cost of importing increased in March 2026 compared with March 2025; up from 28.1% in the year to December 2025.

Estimated share of businesses experiencing increased exporting / importing costs over the last year. 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. Applicable waves 75 (23 January to 5 February 2023) to 155 (20 April to 3 May 2026).

Source: BICS weighted Scotland estimates - data to Wave 155 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 4 data see tables ‘CostOfExporting’ and ‘CostOfImporting’.