Region leads the way as exports climb to £4.43bn

The figure for the three months to the end of June was up from £4.24bn for the first quarter of the year and up from £3.93bn for the same period last year.

Yorkshire and the Humber was the only northern region to show second quarter growth, with export values decreasing in the North East and North West versus the first quarter.

The figures also reveal that regional exports to Asia and Oceania were worth £467m for the second quarter, an increase of more than £50m versus quarter one, but down from £507m a year previously.

Meanwhile, exports to North America grew from £683m to £1.1bn. This compares to a figure of £674m in the second quarter of 2012.

However, regional exports to the European Union were down quarter-on-quarter from £2.5bn to £2.13bn. The figure recorded in the second quarter of 2012 was £2.05bn.

Mark Robson, regional director for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), said: “It’s refreshing to see sustained growth for the total value of regional exports in 2013 versus 2012.

“This was our strongest quarterly showing since 2011, and it is a further sign that local businesses are taking the initiative and fulfilling their global potential.

“There is still a lot of uncertainty in some areas, not least the EU and Middle East where we have seen little or no regional export growth in 2013, but that is countered by impressive gains in Asia and North America.

“It is also pleasing to see that we are holding our own in emerging Eastern Europe, which will remain a key region for the years ahead.

“We have the skills, products, services and expertise as a region to capitalise on international opportunities wherever they arise, and I am quietly confident that we will continue driving forwards for the remainder of 2013.”

Regional exports to Eastern Europe (excluding the EU) were worth £58m in the last quarter, up from £39m in the previous quarter and up from £48m a year previously.

The statistics from HM Revenue & Customs show that machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels and chemicals are the key export commodities for Yorkshire and the Humber, with America, Germany and Holland the region’s top three export partners.

Commenting on the second quarter figures for the region, Andy Coticelli, international tax partner at Deloitte in Yorkshire, said: “Exporting is crucial for regional economic growth and we are seeing consistently high performance from the chemicals sector (£1.12bn), the machinery and transport sector (£1.02bn) and the manufactured goods sector (£771m).

“These have contributed greatly to Yorkshire’s general trend of export growth – the region’s totals are up year-on-year and we have seen an incredibly positive first half of 2013.

“The real message is not to stop – global economic conditions are improving and there is room for further growth. At Deloitte we are in no doubt that the key to success for ambitious, fast-growing companies is to look at overseas trade and we hope to see activity increasing further over the next 12-24 months.”

Looking across England, the North East recorded exports worth £3.03bn in the last quarter, the North West £5.7bn, the East Midlands £5.25bn, the West Midlands £6.58bn, the East £7.07bn, London, £9.8bn, the South East £11.57bn and the South West £3.45bn.

The total annual value of exports (in the year ending June 2013) from England fell by 1.4 per cent to £222.9bn. Exports from Scotland rose by 4.1 per cent to £19.7bn, while exports from Wales fell by 6.4 per cent to £12.9bn. Exports from Northern Ireland fell by 1.3 per cent to £5.8bn.

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