Scots manufacturing exports on slide

Published on Thursday 5 October 2006 11:54

SCOTLAND saw its level of manufactured exports fall by 0.8 per cent over the second quarter of 2006, according to official figures released by the Scottish Executive.

However, over the year to the end of the quarter, they were up by 1.3 per cent.

The drop over the past three months was down to a slide in exports in sectors such as electrical and instrument engineering (down 2.3 per cent), mechanical engineering (down 2.9 per cent), and chemicals (down 4.3 per cent).

That was partly offset by a 7.5 per cent increase in metals exports, a rise of 5.3 per cent in textiles and a lift of just under one per cent in the shipping of drinks.

Taken over the past year, the Executive said mechanical engineering had been the industry contributing most to growth, showing an annual rise of 16.6 per cent.

On the downside, electrical and instrument engineering exports were a key faller, down 3.9 per cent, assisted by food and tobacco, and chemicals.

"All other industries grew over the year," the Executive said.

Peter Hughes, chief executive at trade organisation Scottish Engineering said he was encouraged by the figures which showed engineering and allied industries showing an annualised uplift of 3.9 per cent.

"Excluding electronics, that would be 11 per cent," he said. "If you look at the underlying trend since the peak in 2000, we're up about 25 per cent."