The United States was the leading country for exports from the United Kingdom in 2024, with 16.1 percent of all UK exports going to this market. Germany was the second-largest export market for the UK in this year, followed by the Netherlands, with these countries accounting for 8.8 and 7.7 percent of UK exports respectively. During this year, cars were the most valuable goods commodity exported from the UK, while general business services were the most valuable type of service exported from the UK. UK imports most from Germany Although the United States was the largest export market, Germany was the country from which the UK imported the highest share of goods, with 12.5 percent of the UK’s imports coming from the country in 2024. The United States was the second-largest source of imports for the UK, with ten percent originating from there in 2024, with China a close third at 9.8 percent of UK imports. The main types of trade goods imported from the rest of the world in the UK included cars, oil, and mechanical power generators. The Balance of Trade In the fourth quarter of 2024, the United Kingdom had an overall trade deficit of over 11.5 billion pounds. Although service exports from the UK to the rest of the world amounted to more than 119.9 billion pounds, the UK imported far more goods than it exported, resulting in a goods trade deficit of 55.4 billion pounds, bringing down the overall trade balance. As of 2023, the UK was behind only the U.S. when it came to the overall size of the trade deficit.
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.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Exports in the United Kingdom increased to 75997 GBP Million in March from 75570 GBP Million in February of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Exports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
The United Kingdom's total Exports in 2024 were valued at US$508.68 Billion, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. The United Kingdom's main export partners were: the United States, China and Germany. The top three export commodities were: Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers; Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins and Vehicles other than railway, tramway. Total Imports were valued at US$809.19 Billion. In 2024, The United Kingdom had a trade deficit of US$300.51 Billion.
In 2021, the main goods commodity the United Kingdom (UK) exported to European Union (EU) countries was machinery and transport equipment, including vehicles, cars, railway vehicles, and aircrafts among others. The UK imported more machinery and transport equipment from the EU than it exported to the EU in the same year, resulting in a trade deficit in this category.
The UK trade in numbers contains the latest published UK trade and investment statistics. It draws on a number of statistical sources including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Trade statistics are derived from a number of sources and can be presented in different ways. The UK’s trade statistics are primarily provided by ONS releases, including the ONS monthly UK trade, ONS UK quarterly trade by partner country, and ONS UK balance of payments. These releases set out the UK’s economic relationship with other countries and illustrate the UK’s bilateral trade on top exports and imports for goods and services.
In addition, the UK trade in numbers depicts foreign direct investment, regional trade statistics, and the UK’s position in global rankings for exports and imports of goods and services.
Germany is the biggest exports market for UK goods. In 2021, the United Kingdom's main export commodity to Germany was aircrafts, which had a value of about 2.61 billion British pounds. Among other leading exports goods that went from the UK to Germany were non-ferrous metals, mechanical power generators, cars, and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
United States Exports to United Kingdom was US$79.89 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Exports to United Kingdom - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.
The leading food or drink product exported from the UK in 2023 was whiskey by far. The export value of whiskey reached *** billion British pounds that year. In comparison, milk, cream, and chocolate, the second and third most exported products, only reached about *** and *** million British pounds in export value, respectively. Scottish whisky Whisky has been distilled in Scotland for many years and is the origin of all Scotch whisky, so it is no surprise that whisky is a top export from the UK. The Scottish whisky brand, Johnnie Walker, sold **** million 9-liter cases of whisky in 2021. It is the ***** most sold whisky worldwide and it is among the top ten most popular spirit brands worldwide as well. UK trade within Europe Despite the impact of Brexit, the UK and the rest of Europe remain important trade partners to one another. After a sharp drop in exports in January 2021, exports of goods from the UK have begun to recover and even exceeded pre-Brexit levels. ************************************ are the leading destinations for food and drink exports from the UK as of 2021. Exports to Ireland reached ***** billion British pounds.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
United Kingdom Exports to Australia was US$5.55 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United Kingdom Exports to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.
Open Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automatically
Monthly export country-by-commodity data on the UK's trade in goods, including trade by all countries and selected commodities, non-seasonally adjusted.
In 2024, the United Kingdom exported approximately 508 billion British pounds worth of services to the rest of the world, with approximately 101.4 billion of these services being financial. 'Other Business Services' that did not belong to a specific sector accounted for over 183 billion pounds of UK service exports.
Open Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automatically
Experimental dataset providing a breakdown of UK trade in services by industry, country and service type on a balance of payments basis. Data are subject to disclosure control.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
United Kingdom Exports to France was US$28.35 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United Kingdom Exports to France - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on May of 2025.
The following tables contain EU and non-EU import and export data for July 2024 at chapter level.
ODS, 26 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
ODS, 26 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
The United Kingdom's major ports exported a total of 54.1 million tons of freight to its top five export partners in 2022. The Netherlands was their biggest export partner, accounting for 24.5 percent of shipments. With a share of ten percent of the total export volume, France was its next largest export partner.
Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
License information was derived automatically
Thailand Exports to United Kingdom was US$4.2 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Thailand Exports to United Kingdom - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-citation-requiredhttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/legal/#copyright-citation-required
Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Exports: Commodities for United Kingdom (XTEXVA01GBM659S) from Jan 1958 to Apr 2025 about exports, United Kingdom, trade, and goods.
Open Government Licence 3.0http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
License information was derived automatically
Quarterly estimates of total trade, trade in goods, and trade in services by country, seasonally adjusted.
The biggest export destination of papers and boards from the United Kingdom in 2023 was the European Union (EU-27), accounting for ** percent of total exports. The EU has consistently been the biggest export destination for UK papers and boards, followed by the Americas and Asia.
The United States was the leading country for exports from the United Kingdom in 2024, with 16.1 percent of all UK exports going to this market. Germany was the second-largest export market for the UK in this year, followed by the Netherlands, with these countries accounting for 8.8 and 7.7 percent of UK exports respectively. During this year, cars were the most valuable goods commodity exported from the UK, while general business services were the most valuable type of service exported from the UK. UK imports most from Germany Although the United States was the largest export market, Germany was the country from which the UK imported the highest share of goods, with 12.5 percent of the UK’s imports coming from the country in 2024. The United States was the second-largest source of imports for the UK, with ten percent originating from there in 2024, with China a close third at 9.8 percent of UK imports. The main types of trade goods imported from the rest of the world in the UK included cars, oil, and mechanical power generators. The Balance of Trade In the fourth quarter of 2024, the United Kingdom had an overall trade deficit of over 11.5 billion pounds. Although service exports from the UK to the rest of the world amounted to more than 119.9 billion pounds, the UK imported far more goods than it exported, resulting in a goods trade deficit of 55.4 billion pounds, bringing down the overall trade balance. As of 2023, the UK was behind only the U.S. when it came to the overall size of the trade deficit.