UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has defended her decision to back the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport by declaring its importance to the country’s food and drink exports, including Scottish salmon, which is already the airport’s single biggest export in volume terms.
In a speech, Reeves said: “According to the most recent study, from Frontier Economics, a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% by 2050. Over half – 60% of that boost – would go to areas outside of London and the south-east, including increasing trade opportunities for products like Scotch whisky and Scottish salmon, already two of the biggest British exports out of Heathrow.”
In the five years to 2023, more than 115,000 tonnes of Scottish salmon were exported from London Heathrow. Over that period, GBP 970 million worth of the product was flown from the airport to markets around the world.
Commenting on Reeves’ speech and support for a third runway, Tavish Scott, Chief Executive of trade body Salmon Scotland, said: “The Chancellor is absolutely right to highlight the role that Heathrow plays in supporting British business. Scottish salmon is the UK’s number one food export and is the airport’s single biggest export by volume.
“Scottish business has long pressed for a third runway at Heathrow so we welcome this announcement and any measures that will support the sustainable economic growth of the Scottish and UK economy.”
Total Scottish salmon exports for the first 10 months of 2024 reached 82,000 tonnes with an export value of GBP 688 million.
