Scottish exports to rest of UK dwarf other markets – Daily Business

Export figures have shown how the Scottish economy is more dependent on the rest of the UK than on the EU and other overseas markets.

Data from the Scottish Government shows that 60% of Scotland’s exports in 2023 remained within the UK, totalling £55.4 billion.

This is more than all international exports combined which were worth £37.7bn. Just 18% were for EU countries and 22% beyond the EU.

The proportion of exports going to the rest of the UK compared to international destinations has been broadly stable over time, though the proportion going to the rest of the UK is slightly lower in 2023 than in 2008.

Service sectors make up a higher proportion of exports to the rest of the UK than manufacturing sectors (54% compared with 23% respectively in 2023). The opposite is seen for international exports – with manufacturing sectors making up a higher proportion of international exports than service sectors (49% and 41% respectively in 2023).

The pro-UK campaign group, Scotland in Union, said the numbers reaffirmed the positive case for Scotland remaining within the UK.

Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said: “Yet again, official Scottish Government statistics show that the UK market is Scotland’s most important.

“It is worth tens of billions of pounds to Scottish businesses every year, and dwarfs the value of the EU and international markets.

“But the SNP government wants to turn that on its head and throw up needless barriers between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“The nationalists’ reckless independence plans would jeopardise these exports, risking thousands of Scottish jobs and dealing a major blow to public finances.

“Instead of desperate spinning in relation to Europe, the SNP should focus squarely on further strengthening our relationship with the rest of Britain.”

Scottish salmon gains protected status

Scottish salmon has secured protected legal status across the European Union.

The protected geographical indication (PGI) gives European consumers confidence that they are eating Scottish salmon, which is recognised as a premium product across the continent.

France is the biggest international market for the fish, accounting for more than half of all exports, with sales of £462 million in 2024. About a third of Scottish salmon exports to France carry the prestigious Label Rouge mark, awarded more than 30 years ago for superior quality.

The European Commission’s labelling decision means that the term ‘Scottish salmon’ has a protected geographical indication which aligns with a new UK PGI already in place following Brexit.

The strict geographical designation will be ‘the coastal region of mainland Scotland, Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland Isles’. Only salmon raised in these areas can be sold as ‘Scottish salmon’ in the bloc.

The EU has decided to amend a previously protected name of ‘Scottish farmed salmon’ although packaging will still make it clear that the salmon are farm-raised – and there is no impact on Scottish wild salmon, which is no longer commercially available for consumption.

Scottish salmon is the UK’s largest food export, with international sales in 2025 poised to hit £1 billion for the first time. Salmon exports from Scotland rose by 33% to £941 million in the rolling 12 months to the end of June.