SOARING salmon and whisky sales from the second quarter of 2017 have helped the UK’s exports reach record highs, as Europeans go crazy for Scottish produce, according to the latest figures.
The statistics, released by HMRC yesterday, showed UK food and drink exports to EU countries rose by nine per cent, faster than to countries outside the EU.
Around 29,000 tonnes of fresh Atlantic salmon, worth £190 million, was exported from the UK, a 22 per cent increase in value and 26 per cent increase in volume from the first four months of the year.
Compared to the first six months of last year, salmon exports are up to £346m, a whopping 70 per cent increase.
Scotch whisky exports from the UK were valued at approximately £1.8 billion, up £57m compared to the same period in 2016.
While the majority of Scotch exports in the first half of 2017, around 69 per cent were to non-EU markets, Europe was still the biggest single market for Scotch, worth £554m.
Overall, salmon whisky, and beer lifted exports by 8.5 per cent to an all-time high of £10.2bn for the period.
But it is a bittersweet surge, with that increase coming in part from a pound falling fast. While it makes the goods more affordable overseas, the suppliers have to stomach higher costs.
The pound has fallen 15 per cent since the 2016 vote on EU membership, and has been predicted to fall further.
Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, said the continuing weakness of sterling was a concern.
“However, we hope that with the determination of businesses and the assistance of Government, we can open more channels and provide a further boost to the UK’s competitiveness on the world market.”
Overall, the greatest export demand came from the European Union, boosting its share of sales to 61.2 per cent and outstripping the appetite from markets outside the 27-nation bloc.
Britain’s top three export markets were Ireland, France and the United States, the report said.
While SNP Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins welcomed the figures, he expressed fears about just what a hard Brexit might means for Scotland’s larder.
“These figures show that Scotland’s food and drink is not only a key contributor to Scotland’s economy but increasingly to the UK economy too,” Gethins said.
“Sectors including salmon and whisky propelled the UK to export a record value of food and drink in the first half of this year, and demonstrate just how crucial it is that the UK government abandons its foolhardy Brexit plans to exit the single market and customs union.
“It needs to focus its efforts on working to safeguard and protect Scotland’s key industries and the tens of thousands of jobs they support.”
He added: “The success of Scottish food and drink industries simply underlines the importance of ensuring that those very same growing industries are protected from the potentially devastating consequences of the Tory government’s plans to leave the EU.
“With the next round of negotiations nearing, the UK Government must meaningfully engage with the devolved governments to ensure that their interests are protected.”
He said the Government must show these existing trade relationships matter, not least to “everyone all around Scotland who is employed in these industries and businesses.”
UK food minister George Eustice said: “These encouraging figures show that the UK’s high-quality foods food sales remain a bright spot for UK retailers.”
Meanwhile, thinktank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has said the possibility of a the UK leaving Europe withput a deal and going for a full hard Brexit would “not be a disaster”.
Research director Jamie Whyte said: “In fact, we could unilaterally eliminate all import tariffs, which would give us most of the benefits of trade, and export to the EU under the umbrella of the WTO rules.”
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