From the Guardian today: ‘British manufacturing output slips to ninth globally behind France. Data shows sector starved of investment and losing ground as Brexit uncertainty persists. Britain’s manufacturing industry has fallen to ninth in the world behind France, reversing a recovery in its performance since the financial crash. The UK’s total manufacturing output stayed ahead of Brazil and Indonesia but slipped below France and remained well adrift of Germany in fourth position and Italy in seventh at the end of 2016.’

Meanwhile in Scotland: ‘Manufactured Exports make up around half of the total value of exports from Scotland to the rest of the world (excluding oil and gas). The Index of Manufactured Exports (IME) increased by 3.6% in volume terms during the first quarter of 2018. On a rolling annual basis, comparing the most recent four quarters to the previous four quarters, the volume of manufactured exports increased by 8.7%.’
https://thoughtcontrolscotland.com/2018/08/20/scottish-manufacturing-excluding-oil-and-gas-grows-by-8-7-as-it-falls-dramatically-elsewhere-in-uk/