Exports of drink and seafood drive recovery

STRONG seafood and drink exports helped Scotland make one of the strongest recoveries in the UK last year to the challenges of the pandemic and Brexit.

A report by the Food and Drink Federation said the products accounted for £5.2billion of total Scottish exports.

The figures, up 15 per cent on 2020, showed the country was ‘recovering significant lost ground’, the report said.

David Thomson, Food and Drink Federation Scotland’s chief executive, said: ‘It’s heartening to see an increase in Scotland’s food and drink exports as the industry begins to recover from the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit.’

Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: ‘Scotland’s food and drink producers not only play a major role in our economy, these figures demonstrate that their high-quality products are being increasingly enjoyed by consumers across the world.’

The figures put Scotland in the top three regions for export growth, along with North-east England and Wales.