1. Executive Summary

Transporting Scotland's Trade 2019 Edition

1. Executive Summary

This 2019 edition[1] of Transporting Scotland's Trade provides a summary of Scotland's key exports and imports; how they are transported to, from and within Scotland; and an overview of some of Scotland's key transport hubs and trading partners.

Transport plays a key role in delivering Scotland's Economic Strategy. It enables firms to have efficient access to suppliers and customers. The recently published National Transport Strategy Draft for Consultation[2], emphasizes the importance of Scotland having a sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

A safe, efficient and effective transport system is a key enabler of a successful and dynamic nation. Transport is the movement of people, goods and services. Scotland's transport system – which includes one of the world's most iconic structures the Forth Bridge, a UNESCO's World Heritage site – supports both domestic and foreign business activity, providing businesses with the confidence to invest in Scotland.

The recently published paper A Trading Nation[3] highlights the importance of exports to the Scottish economy. Internationalization is a fundamental theme of Scotland's Economic Strategy and National Performance Framework, and this report aims to provide a clearer picture of not only the goods that are traded, but also the mechanisms available that facilitate this movement.

Recent government policies and targets mean that providing sustainable transport options in the face of climate change, is crucial to achieving the Scottish Government's goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2045[4]. In 2017, transport accounted for 36.8% of Scotland's total greenhouse gas emissions, this was also the fourth consecutive year that Scotland's transport emissions have increased[5]. Although it is recognised that the pathways identified for emissions reduction in the transport sector are particularly challenging, there is a clear commitment from the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to follow them.

Below is a summary of the key highlights from each of the chapters contained within this report:

Scotland's Trade[6]

  • Scotland traded (imports and exports) over £57.6 billion worth of goods in 2018, 56% of which were exports. Of the £32.2 billion worth of goods exports destined for international markets, £17.3 billion worth (54%) went to the EU.
  • The top 5 destinations for Scottish exports in 2018 were the Netherlands, the United States, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, and France.
  • Scotland's key export markets include 'Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials', 'Beverages' and 'Power generating machinery & equipment' – these three commodity groups combined accounted for 57% of the value of Scottish goods exports in 2018.

Transporting Scotland's Freight

  • In 2018, total freight (road, port and air) carried in Scotland was approximately 214 million tonnes. Road freight[7] made up the largest proportion (69%) followed by port (31%) and then air (<1%)[8].
  • The majority of freight lifted in Scotland was carried by HGV on the road network and remained within Scotland (111.4 million tonnes).
  • Although the amount of road freight carried from Scotland to mainland Europe is small (less than 200,000 tonnes), the road network between Scotland and Europe continues to be an essential way to transport perishable goods to market.
  • Scotland's rail freight network, carried freight around 430 million net tonne miles between April 2018 and March 2019.

Scotland's Key Transport Hubs

  • Forth Ports[9] is Scotland's largest port with 26.6 million tonnes being handled in 2018.
  • Clyde Ports boasts the deepest sea entrance in Northern Europe and is the busiest cruise terminal in Scotland.
  • Cairnryan/Loch Ryan is Scotland's main port for carrying goods and passengers to Northern Ireland. In 2018, all passenger travel by ferry to Northern Ireland went via Cairnryan.
  • Edinburgh and Glasgow were in the UK top 10 airports for both terminal passengers (6th and 8th respectively) and freight lifted (9th and 10th respectively) in 2018.
  • Scotland's largest intermodal rail freight terminals are across the central belt – Coatbridge, Grangemouth and Mossend.

Transport Links to Key Trade Destinations

  • Scotland's number one international export destination is the Netherlands. This is largely due to the Dutch port of Rotterdam being an international shipping hub with goods exported to other global destinations from there.
  • In 2018, the USA was Scotland's main non-EU export destination with whisky being a key export commodity. Although most high density freight to the USA is carried by ship, direct flights operate from Scotland, carrying low volume/high value freight.
  • In 2018, the Republic of Ireland replaced China as one of Scotland's top 5 exporting destinations. £1.5 billion of exports went to the Irish Republic, accounting for 3.5% of Scotland's total exports. A share of these goods would have been transported via the 13 daily sailings from Cairnryan / Loch Ryan to Belfast and Larne.
  • Since 2013, Scotland has imported more goods from Norway than any other nation. Between 2013 and latest available data (2019 Q2), imports from Norway have totalled more than £25.5 billion. As a result of both countries involvement in the North Sea oil and gas fields, the top categories are related to petroleum and gas. These are typically transported by either boat or pipeline.

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