Record-breaking year for Scottish food exports

The value of Scottish food exports reached a new all-time high in 2022 as the agri-food sector and government stepped up efforts to grow foreign markets.

Overseas sales of Scottish food totalled more than £1.9bn during the year, according to HMRC figures, up 13% on the previous year.

Scottish rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon welcomed the figures and said it was a fantastic achievement for the food sector.

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“This is testament to the quality, innovation and skill shown by everyone working in the industry across the length and breadth of Scotland,” said Ms Gougeon.

“We have worked with industry to strengthen and unlock markets across the globe for Scottish producers through the Scotland Food and Drink Export Plan,” she added.

Combined overseas food and drink exports from Scotland were worth a record £8.1bn during 2022, up 30.6% on year-earlier levels.

In 2022, the Scotch Whisky Association estimated that whisky accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, offering additional support to arable farmers growing cereals for distilleries.

Ms Gougeon said: “We will continue to focus on delivering our plan to grow exports and build on this progress, through the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.”