According to reports, exports of manufactured goods from Scotland have fallen to their lowest level since 1995. Year-on-year, exports have fallen 8.5%.

Except for food and tobacco, every major industrial sector fell. The biggest fall was in the wood, paper, publishing and printing sectors, followed by a 7.3% decline for the leather, fur and textile segment.

The index for manufactured exports, which was over 140 in 2000, has fallen for the fifth successive quarter and is now below 100.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said: “Any decline in the sale of Scottish products overseas is clearly disappointing. But the situation mirrors trends elsewhere and the rate of decline has continued to ease since the last statistics were published in July.”

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