In the first quarter of 2025, the value of exports from the United Kingdom amounted to approximately 227 billion British pounds, while imports to the country amounted to around 238 billion pounds, resulting in a trade deficit of around 10.6 billion pounds in this quarter. During this time period, the value of UK exports was highest in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the value of imports peaking in the third quarter of 2022. The UK's main trade partners Despite the UK leaving the EU in 2020 following the Brexit referendum of 2016, Europe remains the main destination for UK exports, with almost half of UK exports heading there in 2023. During the same year, just over 60 percent of imports came from European countries, compared with around 17.9 percent from countries in Asia, and 11.8 percent from the Americas. In terms of individual countries, the United States was the UK's leading export partner for both goods and services from the UK, while Germany was the main source of UK goods imports, and the U.S. for service imports. It is as yet unclear how the return of Donald Trump to the White House will impact UK/US trade relations, should the President follow through with threats made on the campaign trail to increase trade tariffs. Brexit rethink under Starmer? Although generally more pro-European than the previous government, the new Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, does not plan to rejoin the European Union, or the Single Market. Public opinion, while gradually turning against Brexit recently, has not coalesced around a particular trading relationship. In late 2023, a survey indicated that while 31 percent of British adults wanted to rejoin the EU, a further 30 percent wanted to simply improve relations with the EU, instead of rejoining. Just 11 percent of respondents wanted to join the single market but not the EU, while 10 percent were happy with the relationship as it was. At the start of 2025, after several months in office, the new government has not signalled any major change in direction regarding on this, but has broadly signalled it wants a better relationship with the EU.

As of the first quarter of 2025, the value of goods exported to the European Union from the United Kingdom was over 42.1 billion British pounds, compared with around 76.7 billion pounds of goods imported, resulting in a negative goods trade balance with the EU of around approximately 34.6 billion pounds.

Since the first quarter of 2016, the total trade deficit of the UK has widened, most notably in the first half of 2022. As of the second quarter of 202 the UK's trade balance reached 19 billion British pounds.

  UK’s EU and non-EU trade   UK runs a trade deficit with the EU, but this is not the case regarding trade with countries outside the European Union. Since 2012, the value of UK goods exported to non-EU countries has persistenly been greater than imports made from these countries, resulting in a healthy trade surplus.

  International UK trade after Brexit   Following the Brexit referendum of 2016,the UK government has sought to renew a number of trade agreements that come automatically with EU membership, such as Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

Data on medicine imports and exports between the UK and the rest of the EU, and non-EU trade partners, January 2016 - June 2019

The European Union has experienced a shift in its biggest trade partners since the early 2000s. Over the past two decades, the share of EU imports flowing from China has more than doubled, from around 8 percent in 2002 to over 20 percent in 2024, making China the EU's largest external import partner. At the same time, the proportion of total imports coming from the United Kingdom, which was historically a large importer to EU countries (the UK was an EU member state until 2020), have more than halved, from 18 percent to less than 7 percent. This secular trend existed before the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, however, there has been a notable drop in imports from the UK since Brexit was enacted in 2020. By contrast the share of the EU's import trade taken by the U.S., Switzerland, and the Rest of World have remained relatively stable over this period. The share of exports coming from Russia was growing steadily in the period before 2014, after which the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia due to the illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Imports from Russia collapsed in 2023, due to the effect of the additional economic sanctions placed on Russia in response to the full scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022.The Russian Federation is now only the tenth-largest exporter to the EU, after India, Japan, and South Korea.

In 2024, 12.5 percent of goods imports into the United Kingdom came from Germany, making it the main import partner that year. Imports from the United States accounted for ten percent of UK goods imports, making America the UK's second main import partner, followed by China on 9.8 percent. As of this year, the overall import value of cars to the UK was approximately 38.4 billion British pounds, the most of any commodity in 2024. Europe remains UK's main trading partner Several years after the Brexit vote, and the eventual departure from the European Union, European countries account for most of the UK's trade. As of 2024, approximately 50.8 percent of the UK's exports went to Europe, with 60.1 percent of imports coming from there, the vast majority of which were in the European Single Market. After Europe, American countries were the UK's main destination for exports, at around 19.2 percent, while countries in the Asia Pacific region were the second-main source for imports, at 19.1 percent in 2024. UK attitudes to Brexit in 2025 Since the UK left the EU in 2020, there has been a gradual but consistent increase in the share of people who believe Brexit to have been a mistake. As of January 2025, when asked if they thought it was right or wrong to leave the EU, approximately 55 percent thought it was the wrong decision, compared with 30 percent who thought it was the correct choice. In addition to this, a majority of Britons thought that the impacts of leaving the EU had been mainly negative. Regarding international trade, 57 percent believed that Brexit had been detrimental, compared with just 11 percent who thought it had a positive impact.

Cars were the most valuable type of commodity exported from the United Kingdom in 2024, with exports of this commodity valued at approximately 32.9 billion British pounds. Mechanical power generators were the second-most valuable commodity in 2024, with an export value of around 32.7 billion pounds in this year. By comparison, the most valuable import commodity was also cars, amounting to over 38.4 billion British pounds. The next most valuable import commodity was medicinal and pharmaceutical products at over 27.2 million pounds in this year. UK main trading partners Although the share of both imports and exports from the European Union has been declining recently, the single market is still by far the UK's main trading partner. In terms of individual countries, the United States was the main export partner in 2024 at 16.1 percent of all exports, while Germany was the UK's main import partner with 12.5 percent of imports coming from there in 2024. A main argument of the Leave vote, was that the UK should seek to improve up its trade with the rest of the world, outside of Europe. The success of this 'Global Britain' strategy, depends on the UK significantly scaling up its trade with other continents, with countries outside of Europe still responsible for far less trade than European ones. Brexit and EU trade At the start of 2021, the United Kingdom exited both the European Single Market and the European Customs Union, with the UK's trading relationship with the EU now determined by a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Although the TCA continued tariff and quota-free goods trade between the EU and UK, a number of customs checks came into force, increasing trade friction between the two parties. The status of Northern Ireland in the initial agreement was also different from the rest of the UK. Goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain were initially subject to customs checks, to prevent customs checks occurring at the border with the Republic of Ireland. In February 2023, it was announced that under a new EU-UK agreement called the Windsor Framework, some goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain will be subject to fewer checks.

International trade is one of the most pressing topics on the UK’s Brexit checklist. With no definitive EU deal in immediate sight, it is not just the UK-EU trade that is at stake, but also the continuity of a number of trade agreements with third countries that take effect automatically with EU membership. It is fair to say that this uncertainty surrounding the UK’s international trade will not help the fluctuations experienced in the UK’s goods export as displayed in this statistic.

UK exports in and outside the EU

Since 2008, the UK ships more goods to non-EU countries than EU27. Nevertheless, even with its shrinking share in UK exports, the EU market accounts for the largest proportion of UK trade. This becomes more apparent when we look at the UK’s export trade partners as individual countries.

Trade balance swings

The UK is among the top exporting economies in the world, yet the country’s trade balance seems to be widening. In the first quarter of 2019, the UK’s trade deficit was the largest since 2016. This was down to increasing import activity, as export of trade goods still continued to improve over this period of time.

This study focuses on the diversity of merchandise and commercial services exports by destination. Export diversity is important to hedge against the risk of an economic downturn in partner economies, but it also helps to protect against the threat of trade protectionism. Protectionism is materializing across the world, not only through the United States imposing tariffs on imports of Canadian metal, but also in other events such as Brexit.

The European customs brokerage market, valued at €27.22 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.81% from 2025 to 2033. This expansion is driven by several key factors. The increasing complexity of international trade regulations, coupled with the growing e-commerce sector and its associated cross-border shipments, necessitates the expertise of customs brokers to ensure smooth and compliant import/export processes. Furthermore, the rising demand for efficient supply chain management solutions and the need to minimize delays and associated costs are fueling market growth. The diverse range of services offered by customs brokers, including customs clearance, documentation preparation, and compliance advisory, caters to a wide spectrum of businesses, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large multinational corporations. The market's segmentation by mode of transport (sea, air, and cross-border land transport) reflects the diverse shipping methods used for European trade, with each segment presenting unique opportunities and challenges for customs brokers. Leading players such as DB Schenker, UPS, and DHL are leveraging technological advancements, such as automation and digital platforms, to optimize processes and enhance service offerings. The geographical distribution of the market across major European economies like Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Italy reveals varying levels of market maturity and growth potential. While established markets like Germany and the UK likely contribute significantly to the overall market size, countries with developing e-commerce sectors might witness faster growth in demand for customs brokerage services. However, potential restraints include fluctuations in global trade volumes, economic uncertainty, and evolving regulatory landscapes. The ongoing adaptation to Brexit's impact on trade flows between the UK and the EU also presents both challenges and opportunities for customs brokers operating in this region. Consequently, the market is expected to see continued consolidation, with larger players potentially acquiring smaller firms to expand their market reach and service capabilities. European Customs Brokers Market Report: 2019-2033 This comprehensive report provides a detailed analysis of the European Customs Brokers market, offering invaluable insights for businesses operating within this dynamic sector. The study covers the period 2019-2033, with a focus on the forecast period 2025-2033 and a base year of 2025. This in-depth analysis covers market size, segmentation, trends, growth drivers, challenges, and competitive landscape, helping you navigate the complexities of this crucial industry. The market is projected to reach XXX million by 2033. Recent developments include: December 2023: Kuehne Nagel finalized the acquisition of customs broker Farrow for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move is set to strengthen the company's customs capabilities within the North American market, with a particular focus on improving operations at the US-Canadian and Mexican borders. The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2024., October 2023: Rock-It Freight Forwarding and Logistics, specializing in the live event, entertainment, sports, and broadcast industry, has successfully acquired customs broker Dell Will. This acquisition is part of Rock-It's strategic plan to accelerate growth in the motorsports sector.. Key drivers for this market are: Increasing international trade, Complex custom regulations. Potential restraints include: Regulatory Challenges, Geopolitical Uncertainity. Notable trends are: Germany Driving the Growth of the Market.

The statistic shows the trade balance of goods (exports minus imports of goods) in the United Kingdom from 2013 to 2023. A positive value means a trade surplus, a negative trade balance means a trade deficit. In 2023, the trade deficit of goods in the United Kingdom amounted to about ****** billion U.S. dollars. On the effects of Brexit on the UK's economy The United Kingdom has maintained a trade deficit over the last ten years, but now that the country has chosen to leave the European Union, current trade agreements will need to be renegotiated and trade relationships and the trade balance will change. As of 2015, one of the UK’s most important import and export partners was Germany, but it also trades heavily with many other countries within the European Union; more than half of total value of the UK trade in goods is associated with European Union countries. Trade agreements which have been negotiated by the European Union extend beyond member countries, and the United Kingdom will now have to renegotiate its own trade deals with a far larger number of countries by itself. It remains to be seen as to how the UK will manage these negotiations. Another big question is how the UK banking sector will be able to access the European market. Services contributed close to ** percent of UK GDP, which includes banking services. While it is too soon predict how Brexit will impact the United Kingdom entirely, estimates of the decision’s long term effects estimate negative GDP growth of around **** percent in an optimistic scenario, with the pessimistic scenario estimating negative growth of around *** percent.

The European meat and poultry market remains relatively resilient against the pandemic but suffers from a pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. Brexit hampers severely British meat exports to the EU. The new green agenda forces livestock breeders and meat producers to reduce emissions. Should this trend strengthen, the alternative protein market may emerge against the slower growth of the meat market.

This study focuses on the diversity of merchandise and commercial services exports by destination. Export diversity is important to hedge against the risk of an economic downturn in partner economies, but it also helps to protect against the threat of trade protectionism. Protectionism is materializing across the world, not only through the United States imposing tariffs on imports of Canadian metal, but also in other events such as Brexit.

The mollusc market is expected to contract over 2020 amid a marked drop in demand from the HoReCa sector, and will resume weak growth in 2021 as the HoReCa and tourism sectors find their ‘new normality’. Brexit poses another significant threat to the mollusc market, a problem even more serious for the UK itself than for the EU. Without a special agreement, the mollusc trade between the UK and EU countries cannot continue normally, and this situation threatens the existence of export-oriented British producers.

UK wires, chains and springs manufacturers focus on high-value niche markets as imports dominate cheaper products. The industry heavily depends on the size and performance of the downstream construction, motor vehicle and aerospace manufacturers. Turbulent economic conditions, particularly following the COVID-19 outbreak, have negatively affected many spring and wire manufacturers. Import competition has intensified despite a weak UK exchange rate, putting downward pressure on prices and negatively impacting revenue and profit. Manufacturers also heavily rely on overseas markets, with exports representing approximately 47% of industry revenue. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is expected to drop at a compound annual rate of 3.1% to £1 billion, including a forecast drop of 1.7% in 2024-25.Surprisingly, the industry weathered pandemic disruption relatively well over 2020-21, with output remaining resilient to dulled downstream demand. Over 2021-22, volatile commodity prices and supply chain bottlenecks lengthened lead times and reduced the ability of manufacturers to fulfil order volumes, inflating imports and reducing revenue. Revenue partially rebounded over 2022-23, supported by a booming UK residential construction sector, increased export activity and higher output prices. Over 2023-24 and 2024-25, chain, spring and wire manufacturing activity has slowed, with a handful of companies exiting the industry amid challenging domestic prospects and intensifying import competition, weighing on profitability. Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is forecast to tumble at a compound annual rate of 1.5% to £950.3 million. Improving construction activity and industrial production levels will create opportunities in the domestic market. However, increasing competition from global wire, chain and spring manufacturers will keep import penetration high, constraining revenue growth. Exports will face new red tape complications since Brexit, shrinking the share of exports to EU markets and stagnating total export revenue over the coming years, especially as the pound continues to appreciate. Manufacturers focused on producing high-quality chain, spring and wire products targeted at specific markets will perform solidly and be immune to growing import penetration.

In 2022, the value of goods and services the United Kingdom (UK) imported from the EU amounted to 305.7 billion British pounds. Since the UK's exit from the European Union, trade between the two entities fluctuated.

Clothing and beverages from the EU

As displayed in this statistic, the United Kingdom imported goods and services from the EU on an ever-increasing level since 1999. The EU is a key trade partner for the UK, particularly for food products. Capital products such as machinery and chemicals are also among the leading commodities traded betweenthe UK and the EU.

UK-EU trade balance

As it stands, the trade balance between the UK and the EU is defined by a deficit: the UK imports more goods and services than it exports to the EU. In the case of a hard Brexit where the UK leaves the EU with no deal terms, the UK will have to abide by the external tariff imposed by the EU.

Fasteners are essential components in many products and structures, and UK manufacturers typically target niche high-value segments, like the aerospace and automotive sectors. The domestic industry is small compared with the global market, and most UK companies are subsidiaries of foreign-owned global companies. A booming UK construction activity and resilient industrial production sector supported revenue growth and fastener sales. However, motor vehicle manufacturing contracted amid high uncertainty following the EU referendum. The weak pound has aided export growth, but intense import penetration from overseas manufacturers has intensified competition. Over the five years through 2023-24, industry revenue is expected to drop at a compound annual rate of 0.7% to £752.6 million. The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 outbreak significantly reduced manufacturing revenue over 2020-21, exacerbated by disrupted supply chains, trade flow and weak investment. 2021-22 and 2022-23 saw a recovery in the UK construction and manufacturing sector, contributing to a 12.5% rebound in revenue. Over 2023-24, revenue is forecast to edge downwards by 0.3% as downstream markets face sky-high inflation and high-interest rates. Fierce import competition and supply chain bottlenecks have constrained profitability since the COVID-19 outbreak, preventing manufacturers from expanding output capacity. At 5.7%, the average industry operating margin remains below pre-pandemic levels over 2023-24. Over the five years through 2028-29, industry revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 2.4% to reach £846.9 million. Domestic and foreign downstream market activity will drive revenue opportunities, particularly within the automotive and aerospace sectors. UK industrial production activity will improve as the UK slowly overcomes the slow puncture of Brexit on the economy and raises its productivity to the levels seen across the G7. A free trade deal between the UK and the EU will minimise the export disruption associated with Brexit. Assisted by government schemes, residential construction activity will continue expanding. However, the rising value of the pound could weigh on export prospects.

The development of the export value of building materials and components from the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2020 fluctuated over time. In the fourth quarter of 2018, the value of building materials exported from the United Kingdom (UK) was roughly **** billion British pounds, approximately *** million British pounds less than the previous quarter. In the third quarter of 2020, the export value of building materials and components had decreased to a little over *** billion British pounds. In 2020, both Brexit and COVID-19 affected construction imports and exports in the United Kingdom.

In 2022, the United Kingdom imported around 19 billion U.S. billion dollars’ worth of pharmaceutical products from the rest of the European Union. This is a significant decrease compared to years before the Brexit when imports were up to 27 billion dollars. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic might also be a cause for this development.

Which countries are the products coming from?

Of the EU, Belgium had the second highest value of pharmaceutical products imported into the UK, amounting to some 2.1 billion British pounds in 2022, topped only by Germany at approximately 4.9 billion British pounds. The UK had a negative trade balance with Belgium of around 1.4 billion British pounds, which means the UK imports a considerable amount more pharmaceutical goods from there than it exports.

Impact of Brexit

In a 2018 survey of EU influencers, 32 percent believed that EU pharmaceutical companies will be negatively affected by Brexit, while 41 percent believes that trade barriers will potentially impact the supply of medicines. Additionally, another survey of pharmaceutical industry board level executives revealed that half of those question indicated that Brexit had impacted on the attractiveness of the UK pharmaceutical market.

In 2023, demand for UK-built cars grew by 16.8 percent year-on-year to some 905,100 units. The United Kingdom exports nearly eight out of 10 cars assembled in UK plants. Vulnerability to trade disruptions Sales and exports of UK-manufactured vehicles began to fall in 2016. Slumping investments amid Brexit fears, as well as higher costs of production, are likely to have contributed to a slowdown in demand. Since the UK’s referendum on membership of the European Union, the British pound has fallen in value. This may have been expected to be good news for exporters, who garner more interest with relatively cheaper products. However, the weak pound is unfavorable for vehicle manufacturers due to their international supply chains. The European Union is the UK auto industry's leading trade partner, accounting for most of its car imports. EU markets also account for around six in 10 UK car exports. Inflation impacts new and used car sales The price inflation recorded in the United Kingdom impacted all product types, passenger cars included. New car purchases were the most affected by the soaring prices: Their consumer price index was at its highest in the past fifteen years in 2023. In contrast, the consumer price index for used car purchases decreased in 2023, down from its record-breaking 2022 value.