IT has been a record breaking year for North-East exporters.

The region's companies have increased exports of their goods outside the UK by 20 per cent, topping £8.5bn in the year to September.

The growth is revealed in figures released by Trade Partners UK, the Government organisation which supports UK firms trading overseas.

John Williams, Trade Partners UK International trade director for the region, said: "North-East exports were up 20 per cent year on year to about £8.5bn, which far exceeds all our international trade targets.

"We set our targets at achieving £250m of exports and actually achieved about £1.1bn."

"Exports to the Euro-zone were up a surprising 14 per cent against a backdrop of a steadily weakening euro, while the rest of the world saw exports leap a staggering 46 per cent."

The figures also revealed that, in terms of exports per head of population, the region has gone from seventh to fifth place in the UK league table.

It averaged almost £3,300 of exports for every member of the 2.6 million-strong population, compared to £2,745 previously.

The region's 2,070 exporting companies averaged exports of £41,000 each, more than twice as much per company.

That figure was the second best in the UK. The North-East is the only region in the UK where the number of exporters has actually increased.

In the previous year there were 2,040 exporting companies in the region.

The region is now looking to top its perfo4rmance in the coming year, and the signs are already good.

Mr Williams said: "The first half of the year has been a good one for Trade Partners UK, and we're gearing up to provide even more support to North-East businesses.

"We provide support to North-East companies which are already familiar with exporting and looking for new markets abroad and to new exporters exploring overseas markets."

Trade Partners UK, which was launched in May last year, brings together teams in 200 British embassies overseas, 45 Business Links in the UK, nine Government departments and Chambers of Commerce across the UK.