Grangemouth dispute takes toll on Scottish manufactured exports

Scottish manufactured exports fell by 4% as the effect of the Grangemouth petrochemical plant dispute hit sales.

New official figures from Scotland’s Chief Statistician Roger Halliday showed the drop-off in activity in the fourth quarter of lastyear.

Despite the Grangemouth drag back which resulted in a 20% fall in petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals volumes total manufactured export volumes were still 1.9% up on the full year.

Engineering and metal exports were up 5.5% in the period, but food and drink products fared poorly with a 5.5% fall.

The export figures came as the CBI’s Industrial Trends Survey reported the fastest growth in factory orders for 20 years, and business optimism among manufacturers saw its sharpest improvement since 1973.

Katja Hall, the CBI’s chief policy director, said: “Our industrial base is seizing a bigger role in the UK’s economic recovery, with output, orders and hiring all on the up.”