Stock and commodity exchanges can benefit from various sources of revenue, ranging from fees charged through the purchasing and selling of stocks and commodities to the listing of companies on exchanges with IPOs. Yet, this hasn't meant exchanges have been free of challenges, with many companies looking to more attractive overseas markets in countries like the US that embrace stronger growth. The most notable culprits have been ARM and CRH, refusing to put up with the increasingly cheaper valuations offered by UK stock exchanges. Stock and commodity exchange revenue is expected to boom at a compound annual rate of 11.5% over the five years through 2024-25 to £15.4 billion. Boosted by the London Stock Exchange Group's Refinitiv purchase in 2021-22, the growth numbers seem inflated. The industry saw ample consolidations, aided by MiFID II's initiation in 2018. However, M&As have now decreased because of high borrowing costs. New reporting demands have bumped up regulatory costs, resulting in thinner profits. Banks, aligning with Basel IV, are pulling back on investments. Post-COVID market turbulence fuelled trades, but it's slowing down with economic stabilisation. The inflation slowdown pushes investors towards higher-value securities, boosting trade value despite lower volumes. The weak pound has been beneficial for revenue, especially for the LSEG, bolstered by dollar-earning companies in the FTSE 100. Stock and commodity exchange industry revenue is expected to show a moderate increase of 1.3% in 2024-25. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.1% over the five years through 2029-30 to £18.8 billion. The cautious descent of interest rates from the Bank of England will slow down volatility and ensure greater business confidence in the UK. This will bring back up consolidation activity to support revenue growth, reviving the digital information and exchange markets. The most pressing concern for the industry will be potential limitations on access to the EEA for the clearing segment of the industry, which could shatter short-term growth and keep the tap running for companies exiting UK exchanges.

UK Gas fell to 78.09 GBp/thm on July 24, 2025, down 0.60% from the previous day. Over the past month, UK Gas's price has fallen 5.55%, but it is still 4.83% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. UK Natural Gas - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Monthly import country-by-commodity data on the UK's trade in goods, including trade by all countries and selected commodities, non-seasonally adjusted.

Volatility in financial markets has been high in recent years, which has, at times, benefitted the brokerage industry through greater trading activity as investors look to capitalise on price swings. Most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict and aggressive interest hikes from Central Banks facing rampant inflation have incited severe volatility. Revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.7% over the five years through 2023-24 to £38.1 billion, including estimated growth of 3.9% in 2023-24. Although volatility can benefit the industry, it can also deter investors, incentivising them to delay investments until economic uncertainty subsides. In recent years, uncertainty has mainly stemmed from the aggressive interest rate hikes and their expected trajectory, hitting stock and bond markets in 2022 and hurting trading activity. Although interest rate uncertainty persisted going into 2023-24, stock markets improved thanks to exceptional growth from large-cap tech stocks and a sharp rally at the end of the year as investors bet on the end of rate hikes. Competition has softened as considerable consolidation activity has occurred between SMEs in the brokerage industry. However, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II has ramped up operating costs for brokerage firms, hurting profitability. Continued investment in software to help automate compliance procedures have benefitted margins, although the brokerage industry remains labour-intensive. Revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.5% over the five years through 2028-29 to £45.2 billion, while the average industry profit margin is expected to reach 24.8%. The market narrative for interest rates is higher for longer, weighing on stock markets and hitting demand for brokers as trading activity slows. However, rate cuts are expected to occur in the second half of 2024-25, supporting bond values and stocks driving revenue growth in the short term. Further regulations related to Basel III are set to come into force in January 2025, adding pressure to brokers' operating costs. Due to Brexit, large international brokers are also shifting employees to overseas domiciles, adding downward pressure to revenue growth.

In 2021, the main goods commodity the United Kingdom (UK) imported from European Union (EU) countries was machinery and transport equipment, including vehicles, cars, railway vehicles, and aircraft among others. UK exports to the EU were significantly lower in this commodity category in the same year.

In 2024, the United Kingdom imported around 38.4 billion British pounds worth of cars, the most of any commodity in this year. Medicinal and pharmaceutical products were the second most valuable commodity imported into the UK in 2024, with imports worth over 27.2 billion pounds.

Ireland Exports: UK: Other Commodities and Transactions data was reported at 32.961 EUR mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 32.011 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Ireland Exports: UK: Other Commodities and Transactions data is updated monthly, averaging 44.424 EUR mn from Jan 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.955 EUR mn in Mar 2009 and a record low of 12.380 EUR mn in Dec 2012. Ireland Exports: UK: Other Commodities and Transactions data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Statistics Office of Ireland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ireland – Table IE.JA002: Exports: by Main Trade Partner and Standard International Trade Classification.

Graph and download economic data for Wholesale Price Index, All Commodities for Great Britain (M04053GBM312NNBR) from Jan 1885 to May 1951 about wholesale, United Kingdom, commodities, price index, indexes, and price.

United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: Middle East & North Africa: UAE data was reported at 0.982 GBP mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.092 GBP mn for May 2018. United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: Middle East & North Africa: UAE data is updated monthly, averaging 1.325 GBP mn from Jan 2009 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 114 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 271.990 GBP mn in Dec 2017 and a record low of 0.237 GBP mn in Aug 2009. United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: Middle East & North Africa: UAE data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by UK Trade Info. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.JA011: Imports: By Country and Commodity Group.

In UK Agricultural Commodity Market , was valued at approximately USD 10.11 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 12.45 billion by 2029,

Employment statistics on the Stock & Commodity Exchanges industry in the UK

Graph and download economic data for International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Trade Balance: Commodities for United Kingdom (XTNTVA01GBA664S) from 1957 to 2024 about United Kingdom, trade, Net, and goods.

United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: EU 28: Germany data was reported at 98.481 GBP mn in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 108.684 GBP mn for May 2018. United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: EU 28: Germany data is updated monthly, averaging 8.474 GBP mn from Jan 1996 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 270 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 152.169 GBP mn in May 2012 and a record low of 0.560 GBP mn in May 2000. United Kingdom Imports: SITC: Commodities nec: EU 28: Germany data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by UK Trade Info. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.JA011: Imports: By Country and Commodity Group.

United Kingdom Imports of Commodities not specified according to kind was US$30.21 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United Kingdom Imports of Commodities not specified according to kind - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

United States Imports from United Kingdom of Commodities not specified according to kind was US$5.76 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from United Kingdom of Commodities not specified according to kind - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on July of 2025.

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.

Ukraine Imports from United Kingdom of Commodities not specified according to kind was US$46.19 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Ukraine Imports from United Kingdom of Commodities not specified according to kind - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on June of 2025.