Scottish Food and Drink Exports Set New Records
Having reached record levels last year, export sales of Scottish food and drink products have broken the £2 billion mark for the first time in the first six months of 2011. Figures for the first half of 2011 show food and drink exports now stand at £2.4 billion – up 21% on the same period last year.
Scottish food and drink exports reached an all-time high of £4.5 billion in 2010, up 28% since 2007 and up 11% on the previous year. France was the top market for Scottish food exports in 2010, consuming £276 million worth of food, ranging from fish and shellfish to fruit and vegetables.
While fish exports continue to account for the majority of food exports from Scotland (59% in 2010), the sector that saw the biggest growth was fruit and vegetables. The value of exports in this sector grew by £14.6 million, or 62%, in 2010.
When it comes to drink exports, the market is dominated by whisky and the USA remains the top destination with £499 million worth exported in 2010.
