Welsh Exports up to Quarter 4, 2007

Welsh exports for the whole of 2007 were down 4.3 per cent on 2006 (sum of the UK countries and English regions down 7.6 per cent).  Figures for quarter 4 2007 in isolation were down on the same quarter of 2006 but up on the previous quarter.

The key results are as follows.

• The value of exports for Wales for the whole of 2007 fell by £401 million (4.3 per cent) compared to 2006.  The value of exports for the total of all UK countries and English regions also fell over the same period, by 7.6 per cent.
• The reduction for Wales was made up of a reduction of £151 million in exports to non-EU countries (down 4.0 per cent) and a reduction of £250 million in exports to EU countries (down 4.4 per cent).  [This relates to the 26 countries that have comprised the EU (outside of the UK) since 1 January 2007.
• Amongst the UK countries and English regions, only the North East, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Yorkshire and the Humber experienced an increase in the value of exports over these four quarters (up 12.8 per cent,  6.4 per cent, 1.8 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively). All other regions experienced a fall over this period.
• Growth in Welsh exports between 1999 and 2007 was 41.0 per cent. This compares with an increase of 29.0 per cent for the total of all UK countries and English regions.
• Looking at quarter 4 2007 in isolation, total exports (by value) for Wales decreased on the corresponding quarter in 2006, by £23 million (down 1.0 per cent), to £2,230 million.  London and the East Midlands also experienced a fall in the value of exports over this period while all other UK countries and English regions experienced an increase. Overall, the value of exports for the total of all UK countries and English regions increased by 5.1 per cent.
• Welsh exports for quarter 4 2007 were higher in value than in the previous quarter (up £73 million or 3.4 per cent), compared to a 6.8 per cent increase for the total of all UK countries and English regions. All UK countries and English regions experienced a rise in the value of exports on the previous quarter.

The detailed dataset on StatsWales will be updated to include these new data by 12 noon on 7 March 2008.

Contact:
Tel: 029 2080 1401
E-mail: economic.stats@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next Update:
June 2008 (provisional - to be confirmed on Due Out Soon page)