Welsh Exports up to Quarter 2, 2009

Welsh exports for the four quarters up to and including quarter 2 2009 were up 8.4 per cent on the previous four quarters (sum of the devolved countries and English regions down 0.4 per cent).  Figures for quarter 2 2009 in isolation were down on the same quarter of 2008 and up on the previous quarter.

The key results are as follows.

• The value of exports for Wales for the four quarters up to and including quarter 2 2009 rose by £799 million compared to the previous four quarters.
• There was a decrease in exports to EU countries of £419 million (down 7.3 per cent), and an increase in exports to non-EU countries of £1,218 million (up 32.9 per cent).
• Five of the twelve devolved countries and English regions saw increases over this period. Wales and the South East saw the biggest percentage increases in the value of exports over these four quarters (up 8.4 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively).  The West Midlands saw the biggest fall over this period (down 12.5 per cent), followed by the North East (down 7.9 per cent).
• There was a 60.4 per cent increase in Welsh exports between 1999 and the latest four quarters. This compares with an increase of 36.8 per cent for the sum of the UK countries.
• Looking at quarter 2 2009 in isolation, total exports (by value) for Wales decreased on the corresponding quarter in 2008 by £293 million (down 10.8 per cent) to £2,412 million.  All of the devolved countries and English regions experienced decreases in exports over this period with the West Midlands having the largest decrease and Scotland having the smallest decrease. Overall, the value of exports for the sum of the UK countries decreased by 15.2 per cent.
• Welsh exports for quarter 2 2009 were higher in value than in the previous quarter (up £151 million or 6.7 per cent), compared to a rise of 0.5 per cent for the sum of the UK countries. Five of the twelve devolved countries and English regions experienced a fall in the value of exports on the previous quarter with the North West having the largest fall (down 6.7 per cent) and Scotland having the largest increase (up 7.1 per cent).

A recent change has taken place to the Customs administrative data source used in the compilation of the Regional Trade Statistics (external link, pdf 16kB).  The quarter 3 2009 statistics, due out in December will be the first data to be affected (contrary to the notice in the previous release). The impact of the change will be monitored and reviewed by the Statistical Directorate with the Trade Statistics Unit in HMRC.

The detailed dataset on StatsWales (external link) will be updated to include these new data.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5017
E-mail: economic.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

10 December 2009