Scotland’s new export figures underline importance of the UK market

New official statistics confirm that the UK market remains overwhelmingly the most important destination for Scottish exports.

In 2023, 60% of Scotland’s total exports went to the rest of the UK, worth £55.4 billion. This compares with 18% to EU countries and 22% to non-EU international markets.

Despite this, the SNP Government continues to argue for leaving the UK market and seeking to rejoin the EU’s much smaller single market.

Alastair Cameron, Chair of Scotland in Union, said:

“Yet again, the UK market has proven itself to be far-and-away 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.”