Exports Statistics Scotland 2023
This publication presents estimates of the value of international and rest of the UK exports for all sectors of the Scottish economy from 2008 to 2023. Figures for changes over time are presented in 'real terms' meaning they have been adjusted for inflation. All values (£) of trade are given in current prices.
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Increases in international exports were driven by ‘information & communication’
Between 2022 and 2023, the largest increases in international exports were in ‘construction’ (up 109% to £920 million), and ‘professional, scientific & technical’ exports (up 10% to £4.6 billion).
Over the longer term, from 2018 to 2023, the greatest increases were in ‘information & communication’ (up 48% to £1.9 billion), and ‘construction’ exports (up 436%).
‘Information & communication’ exports have experienced a general upward trend over the series. Unlike most other sectors, ’information & communication’ exports are estimated to have experienced negative inflation (deflation) since 2008, meaning that there is possibly a reduction in price, an increase in quality or a change in categorisation affecting these services.
Figure 3. ‘Information & communication’ exports are at the highest point in the series
International export value (£ million) in current prices and real terms (deflated and chain-linked, index year = 2008), 2008-2023
‘Construction’ has seen a particularly dramatic increase in recent years, in both real terms and current prices. The rise in value of international ‘construction’ exports is due to a considerable increase in one specific category (2-digit SIC) of exports to a particular country. These statistics have been corroborated by external data sources as part of the quality assurance process for this publication. While we are content with the validity of the results, given the small sample of businesses from which these results are estimated, the detail of these exports, including the destination, are suppressed to remove the risk of disclosure of commercially sensitive information.
Figure 4. International ‘construction’ exports have increased sharply since 2021
International export value (£ million) in current prices and real terms (deflated and chain-linked, index year = 2008), 2008-2023
Of the sectors that saw an increase in estimated real terms export value between 2022 and 2023, ‘professional, scientific & technical’ exports had the highest current price value in 2023, comprising 12% of international exports.
There is a strong inflation effect for ‘professional, scientific & technical’ exports, but as the real terms value is also at the highest point in the series, it is likely that there has been a genuine increase in exports rather than an increase in price alone.
Figure 5. ‘Professional, scientific & technical’ exports were at their highest value in 15 years
International export value (£ million) in current prices and real terms (deflated and chain-linked, index year = 2008), 2008-2023