Scotland's manufactured exports are holding up despite the global slowdown, a minister said today.

Scotland's manufactured exports are holding up despite the global slowdown, a minister said today.

Export sales in the second quarter of this year showed no change on the previous quarter.

They were 0.1% down on a year ago - but that was said to be because of an "exceptionally strong" performance by the engineering sector in the second quarter of 2007.

Today's figures show export growth in engineering, wood, paper, publishing and manufacturing but falls in food, drink, tobacco, chemicals, refined petrol and textiles.

But even at today's levels, Scotland's manufactured exports are well below the peak achieved around the year 2000 - largely, say statisticians, because of declines in the electrical and electronic sector.

Enterprise minister Jim Mather said: "At a turbulent time for economies worldwide, Scottish manufactured exports are maintaining their solid performance."

He said the economies of key export destinations like Europe and the US had been hit by global events but demand for Scottish products remained stable, with the engineering sector among those performing well.

"Nevertheless, in spite of this and encouraging signs of resilience in the Scottish economy, we cannot insulate ourselves from the effects of global economic conditions," said Mr Mather.

"That's why this government will not just sit back and wait for things to improve."