Demand for seafood sees to new high in exports

EXPORTS of food and drink from Scotland hit a record high last year, driven by soaring demand for seafood products, figures yesterday confirmed.

Citing an official report from HM Revenue & Customs, Scottish Development International said sales overseas reached 4.06 billion in 2009 – a 6 per cent hike on a year earlier.

Food products accounted for 934 million of that total, up by about a fifth on 2008.

SDI, the international development arm of the Scottish Government, highlighted healthy sales of seafood, generating some 555m of export business for Scots firms. Combined sales of fresh, frozen and smoked salmon topped 285m.

The news will provide a boost for industry group Scotland Food & Drink, which recently set out plans to grow food and drink exports to 5.1bn by 2017.

David Smith, interim chief executive of SDI, said: "The combination of sustained growth in existing markets and strong interest in Scottish produce from emerging markets means that our food and drink exports have continued to soar."

Scotland Food & Drink chief executive Paul McLaughlin said: "We have set ambitious growth targets for food and drink exports, and are working with our partners to achieve this."

Recent official data showed an overall rise of 2.9 per cent in Scottish manufactured exports in the fourth quarter of 2009. Food and drink companies recorded a 1.2 per cent gain.