Over half of the United Kingdom's exports went to countries in Europe in 2024. European countries were collectively the main import market for the UK, with 60.1 percent originating from there. Trade to countries in the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 19.1 percent of imports and 17.1 percent of exports.

This statistic shows the United Kingdom's main export partners in 2022. In 2022, the United States were the UK's most important export partner with a share of 13 percent of total exports.

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.

This page displays a table with United Kingdom Exports By Country in U.S. dollars, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

The statistic shows the main import partners for the United Kingdom in 2022. In 2022, the United Kingdom's main import partner was China, accounting for 12 percent of all imports.

Exports in the United Kingdom decreased to 69835 GBP Million in May from 70472 GBP Million in April of 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Exports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Quarterly estimates of total trade, trade in goods, and trade in services by country, non-seasonally adjusted.

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 2023, 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 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.

Quarterly estimates of service type by partner country, non-seasonally adjusted.

Top Export Trading Partners of United-kingdom with export value and Year on Year growth comparison

Ireland Exports: UK: Manufactured Goods data was reported at 90.795 EUR mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 80.173 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Ireland Exports: UK: Manufactured Goods data is updated monthly, averaging 51.830 EUR mn from Jan 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.795 EUR mn in May 2018 and a record low of 30.303 EUR mn in Dec 2008. Ireland Exports: UK: Manufactured Goods 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.

In 2024, China was by far the main trade partner for construction material imports into the United Kingdom. That year, the UK imported nearly 4.2 billion British pounds worth of building materials from China. Germany was an important market both in terms of exports and imports. Lastly, the UK exported to Ireland 1.6 billion British pounds worth of construction materials.

Bulgaria Exports: FOB: European Union excl UK (EU 27E) data was reported at 2,517.400 EUR mn in Oct 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,224.600 EUR mn for Sep 2024. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: European Union excl UK (EU 27E) data is updated monthly, averaging 2,185.750 EUR mn from Jan 2020 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,855.100 EUR mn in May 2022 and a record low of 1,250.200 EUR mn in Apr 2020. Bulgaria Exports: FOB: European Union excl UK (EU 27E) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bulgarian National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.JA004: Exports: by Main Trade Partners.

Service sector data highlighting the UK's major trading partners, which services are common to a number of industries and the geographical breakdown on services and industries.

Source agency: Office for National Statistics

Designation: Official Statistics not designated as National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: TIS

As of 2023, the country from which EU member states imported the most was from Germany, followed by the Netherlands. In terms of non-EU exporters to the EU, China is currently the largest trading partner, accounting for 8 percent of all imports in 2023 - a tenfold increase in its share of EU imports since 1988. Other exporters who have grown to be important trading partners for EU countries in recent decades include the post-communist countries of Poland and Czechia, both of whom joined the EU in 2004. Poland's share of EU imports has more than doubled, from 1.4 percent to 3.8 percent, in the period since its entry into the EU, while Czechia's has increased from 1.3 percent to 2.8 percent over the same period. Several exporters have declined in relative importance for EU countries during this period, with the United Kingdom, United States, France, and Italy seeing their shares decline. The United Kingdom in particular has seen its share of EU imports drop to nearly a third of their 1997 level, when the UK made up 7.2 percent of all imports into EU countries. The UK reported a significant drop in 2021, the first full year after the country left the EU, however, the UK's share of EU imports has slightly risen in subsequent years.

Imports in the United Kingdom decreased to 74729 GBP Million in May from 76895 GBP Million in April of 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Imports - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Ireland Exports: EU excl UK: Other Manufactured Articles data was reported at 442.877 EUR mn in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 486.714 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Ireland Exports: EU excl UK: Other Manufactured Articles data is updated monthly, averaging 332.379 EUR mn from Jan 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 531.805 EUR mn in Mar 2016 and a record low of 176.762 EUR mn in Aug 2006. Ireland Exports: EU excl UK: Other Manufactured Articles 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.

Ireland Exports: UK: Inedible Crude Materials excl Fuels data was reported at 43.783 EUR mn in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 39.687 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Ireland Exports: UK: Inedible Crude Materials excl Fuels data is updated monthly, averaging 27.119 EUR mn from Jan 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.783 EUR mn in May 2018 and a record low of 12.704 EUR mn in May 2009. Ireland Exports: UK: Inedible Crude Materials excl Fuels 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.

Ireland Exports: UK: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related data was reported at 17.453 EUR mn in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17.633 EUR mn for Apr 2018. Ireland Exports: UK: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related data is updated monthly, averaging 26.364 EUR mn from Jan 2000 (Median) to May 2018, with 221 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 182.554 EUR mn in Jan 2012 and a record low of 0.842 EUR mn in Dec 2003. Ireland Exports: UK: Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related 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.