Flat UK export sales sounds loud warning as Fife Chamber expands its international trade support

BCC survey reports flat export sales as Fife Chamber expands its international trade support with ‘Pathway to International Trade’ and ‘Trading Places’ programmes

The latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Trade Confidence Outlook Survey continues to paint a bleak picture of UK trade performance, with the number of exporters reporting unchanged or decreasing sales far exceeding the number reporting increased orders. This compares very unfavourably with EU countries like Germany that have seen significant export growth and are back to pre-covid levels.

Commenting on the results, Alan Mitchell, Chief Executive of Fife Chamber of Commerce, said: “UK exporters, including those in Fife, are facing strong headwinds from higher red tape costs from trading with the EU, raised raw material pressures and ongoing issues in global shipping markets. We should be able to rely on our exporters to play a powerful role in powering our recovery from the pandemic, but they will not be able to do this fully until structural impediments to global trading are addressed. Chambers of Commerce across the country are doing everything they can to support exporters, but we can only do so much: the UK and Scottish governments must step up their respective games.”

International Trade Services at Fife Chamber

Our International Trade Pathway programme is delivered in collaboration with InvestFife to give Fife businesses the guidance and technical knowledge to trade internationally. The 2022 programme features the following workshop topics, all FREE and all addressing key issues that existing and prospective exporters need to understand:

Customs Procedures and Documentation

Rules of Origin/Trading with the EU

New UK Trade Agreements

Agents & Distributors

Letters of Credit/Methods of Payment

Incoterms 2020

Commodity Codes.

Trading Places is a series of online workshops that is being delivered with the BCC’s international chamber of commerce network to give local businesses insights into new overseas markets. The first event in April looked at opportunities presented by the new UK/Australia Free Trade Agreement, while Trading Places Singapore is on 1st June. Singapore is widely viewed as the most open and business-friendly economy in the world.

Fife Chamber can also help you manage your Export Documentation. We are an accredited issuer of many documents that are legally required to export, including UK Certificates of Origin, UK EUR1s and Signature Verification and Certification. We can also connect you with chambers of commerce who can help you complete the Customs Declarations that are now required more regularly following Brexit.

Email [email protected] to learn more about our Pathway or Trading Places programmes or for help with your export documentation.