Date Created: 20 February 2012
The UAE continues to be a lucrative market for Scottish food and drink, figures released today revealed.
Annual figures show that Scottish salmon has seen a 41.5 percent rise in exports from Scotland to the Middle East in the last year, increasing from £7.8 million in 2010, to over £11.04 million in 2011.
The announcement came today at Gulfood, where Scottish food producers are exhibiting their products for an international audience at a Scottish Pavilion ran by SDI.
In Q3 of 2011 food and drink exports from Scotland to the UAE rose by 34 percent compared to the first three quarters of 2010 - this compares to an increase of 21 per cent in global food and drink exports from Scotland.
Smoking hot performance as exports soar
The latest statistics further underline the region’s importance as an emerging market for Scottish exports and continue to show increased growth, after UAE emerged in 2010 as the second fastest growing market for Scottish food - read the full news article
They also show that Scotland Food and Drink and SDI’s partnership overseas to deliver the industry strategy is continuing to make good progress.
Scotland’s Food and Drink Secretary Richard Lochead welcomed the figures at the Gulfood event:
"The Middle East is a key target market for the Scottish food and drink industry, with demand increasing significantly from this region. The rocketing figures out today for the Middle East show the region is a key target market with huge potential value to the Scottish food and beverage industry which we are only just beginning to tap in to.”
He continued: “Scotland is a natural larder and we provide some of the world’s freshest and healthiest foods – combined with a quality, authenticity and trustworthiness that few can match. As more and more people across the world realise how good Scottish produce is, the sector will continue to grow at a great rate bringing further massive boosts to Scotland’s economy."