Export confidence ‘remains high’ - BCC and DHL Q3 report

29 October 2013

UK export confidence is at its third highest figure on record, the latest BCC/DHL trade confidence index says.

The Q3 index used to calculate the volume of trade documents administered by UK Chambers of Commerce stands at 116.32, a rise of 3.7% on the same business quarter in 2012.

While a regional breakdown reveals a mixed exporting picture across the UK, Yorkshire & Humber stands fourth in the index with a 1.76% rise from Q3 2012.

Key findings are:

• Export orders for manufacturing and service firms feel to + 35% from the previous highest figure of +37% - the previous highest figure – recorded in Q2 2013.
• 44% of exporters said export orders rose in Q3; 47% said they remained constant while only 9% reported a fall.
• The export sales indicator remained the same in Q3 2013.
• Volume of world trade grew by 0.6% in the latest quarter compared to 0.9%. 

Director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), John Longworth said: “Only by increasing the scale of support for our businesses and encouraging them to ‘think global’ will we begin to rebalance towards net exports and build a truly great economy.’ Follow Chamber International on Twitter @ChamberInt.