Food and drink exports from Scotland has grown by £421 million in 2016, to a record £5.5 billion.
The latest figures show an 8% increase in the value of exports to Scotland’s food and drink sector over the past year.
Food exports alone grew by 22% to £1.5 billion. The fish and seafood category recorded the largest overall increase of £156 million (up 26%), with Europe the leading export destination.
Exports to EU countries were worth £2.3 billion overall, up £133 million last year, and Scotch Whisky exports grew by £153 million (up 4%) to over £4 billion in 2016.
Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, said a hard Brexit pursued by the UK is a 'major threat' to the food sector.
Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing, said: “These figures show the importance of retaining access to the vital European markets, which are currently worth £2.3 billion to the sector, and represent our largest export market.
“We shouldn't have to face the choice between remaining as part of the UK and the EU single market. The pursuit of a hard Brexit is a major threat to this success and these figures show why we must work to protect Scotland’s place in Europe.”
