Member Article

£17.5 billion worth of exports for the Yorkshire and Humber region

Results released by HM Revenue & Customs have revealed that total exports for Yorkshire and the Humber were worth more than £17.5bn for the last year as a whole, topping the previous record of £16.7bn in 2011.

Yorkshire and the Humber was the only northern region to show positive year-end growth, with export values decreasing in the North East and North West for 2013 as a whole versus 2012.

The figures also revealed that regional exports to North America were worth more than £1.3bn for quarter four of 2013, compared to £682 million for the first three months of the year.

There was also growth in the EU, Eastern Europe and Latin America/Caribbean for the year as a whole versus 2012, although the total value of exports dipped slightly to Asia/Oceania, Africa and the Middle East.

The final quarter total for October to December was almost £4.6bn, the strongest quarter of the year - up from £4.3bn in Quarter three and up from £4.1bn for the same period in 2012.

The City of York Council has welcomed this news as some of its own have contributed to this success.

A York business that benefitted from the export growth is Cellhire, celebrating following a record-year of business through the Winter Olympics.

Tim Williams, Chairman and CEO of Cellhire said, ‘Our record year at the London Olympics working with key sponsors, Olympic organisations and some of the world’s biggest media corporations has given us great momentum to build on at events outside of the UK.

“We are delighted with our success in Sochi and our progress in Russia over the past 18 months.’

Cllr James Alexander Leader of City of York Council welcome today’s news and said: “York is dedicated to being a truly international and enterprising city, so these are encouraging figures, and testimony to the ambition and perseverance of firms in York and the wider region.

As a Council, we are committed to supporting local businesses to work internationally, collaborating with private sector partners and UK Trade and Investment to provide a range a services and activities.

“We know that businesses who export are more productive, innovative and resilient to change – so this is ultimately good news for the local economy.”

The record figures were also welcomed by Brian De Vere, Chair of York Export Forum, who said: “These results are very positive and reflect the hard work and energy put in by companies across the region.

“I would encourage any business, large or small, which has an interest in developing further overseas trade to contact the Council’s International business development manager, Mark Alty.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .