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United Kingdom trade in 2024

In 2024, the United Kingdom exported $403.6 billion and imported $723.4 billion, a trade deficit of $319.8 billion. It was the world's 15th-largest exporter, with 1.8% of world exports. Its top export was cars (9% of the total) and its main trading partner was the United States (11.7% of its trade).

Summary

Exports
$403.6billion
Imports
$723.4billion
Trade balance
-$319.8billion
Routes to the main partners. Width: trade value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand
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Products

What it exports

Cars (9%) and turbojets and gas turbines (7.6%) together make up 16.6% of its exports.

  1. Cars$36.3 billion · 9%
    Main partner: United States
  2. Turbojets and gas turbines$30.5 billion · 7.6%
    Main partner: Hong Kong
  3. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$17.4 billion · 4.3%
    Main partner: United States
  4. Crude petroleum$15.8 billion · 3.9%
    Main partner: Germany
  5. Gold$11.7 billion · 2.9%
    Main partner: Switzerland
  6. Aircraft parts$11 billion · 2.7%
    Main partner: Germany
  7. Refined petroleum$10.5 billion · 2.6%
    Main partner: Netherlands
  8. Spirits$9.8 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: United States
  9. Vaccines, blood and antisera$7.3 billion · 1.8%
    Main partner: United States
  10. Natural gas and LPG$6.6 billion · 1.6%
    Main partner: Belgium

What it imports

Cars (7.6%) and gold (6.8%) together make up 14.4% of its imports.

  1. Cars$54.9 billion · 7.6%
    Main partner: Germany
  2. Gold$49.1 billion · 6.8%
    Main partner: South Africa
  3. Crude petroleum$30.8 billion · 4.3%
    Main partner: Norway
  4. Refined petroleum$26.8 billion · 3.7%
    Main partner: United States
  5. Cameras and broadcast equipment$19.1 billion · 2.7%
    Main partner: China
  6. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$17.7 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: United States
  7. Natural gas and LPG$17.1 billion · 2.4%
    Main partner: Norway
  8. Computers$13.9 billion · 1.9%
    Main partner: China
  9. Auto parts$12.4 billion · 1.7%
    Main partner: Germany
  10. Trucks$10 billion · 1.4%
    Main partner: Turkey
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
ChapterExportsImports
84 · Mechanical machinery$76.6 billion$79.9 billion
87 · Vehicles$48.1 billion$85.8 billion
27 · Oil, gas and coal$36.5 billion$81.5 billion
30 · Pharmaceuticals$26.2 billion$28.6 billion
85 · Electrical and electronic equipment$25 billion$69.2 billion
71 · Gems and precious metals$20.5 billion$64 billion
90 · Precision and medical instruments$19.3 billion$21.1 billion
39 · Plastics$13.9 billion$21.2 billion
88 · Aircraft and spacecraft$13 billion$14.8 billion
22 · Beverages and spirits$11.6 billion$10.2 billion
29 · Organic chemicals$7.6 billion$8.1 billion
72 · Iron and steel$7 billion$6.8 billion
33 · Perfumes and cosmetics$6.2 billion$8.1 billion
73 · Iron and steel products$6 billion$11.2 billion
38 · Miscellaneous chemicals$5 billion$5.6 billion
97 · Art and antiques$4.5 billion$2 billion
28 · Inorganic chemicals$3.8 billion$4.3 billion
76 · Aluminum$3.5 billion$6.5 billion
94 · Furniture and lighting$3.5 billion$13 billion
21 · Food preparations$3.3 billion$5.3 billion
32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents$3.2 billion$2.2 billion
49 · Books and printed matter$2.9 billion$1.6 billion
19 · Baked goods and cereal products$2.8 billion$7.1 billion
48 · Paper and paperboard$2.7 billion$8.9 billion
40 · Rubber$2.6 billion$5.8 billion
03 · Fish and seafood$2.5 billion$2.9 billion
34 · Soap and cleaning products$2.4 billion$3.2 billion
74 · Copper$2.3 billion$2.1 billion
02 · Meat and offal$2.3 billion$6.5 billion
04 · Dairy, eggs and honey$2.2 billion$4.7 billion
89 · Ships and boats$2.1 billion$3.3 billion
75 · Nickel$1.8 billion$1.8 billion
83 · Miscellaneous metal goods$1.7 billion$3.1 billion
95 · Toys and sports gear$1.6 billion$6.9 billion
23 · Animal feed and food waste$1.6 billion$3.8 billion
62 · Woven clothing$1.5 billion$8.8 billion
18 · Cocoa and chocolate$1.4 billion$4.6 billion
81 · Other base metals$1.3 billion$1.2 billion
61 · Knitted clothing$1.2 billion$11.3 billion
70 · Glass$1.1 billion$2.4 billion
68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles$1.1 billion$2.4 billion
15 · Fats and oils$981 million$3.3 billion
01 · Live animals$979 million$790 million
35 · Glues, starches and enzymes$881 million$1.2 billion
63 · Home textiles and used clothing$867 million$2.7 billion
82 · Tools and cutlery$793 million$2 billion
25 · Salt, stone and cement$762 million$1.2 billion
47 · Wood pulp$711 million$569 million
26 · Ores and slag$698 million$2.2 billion
93 · Weapons and ammunition$681 million$329 million
91 · Watches and clocks$676 million$2.4 billion
64 · Footwear$632 million$5.4 billion
78 · Lead$625 million$457 million
44 · Wood$622 million$8.5 billion
42 · Leather goods and bags$617 million$3.2 billion
16 · Prepared meat and fish$596 million$5.5 billion
54 · Synthetic filaments$583 million$642 million
17 · Sugar and sweets$577 million$2.2 billion
69 · Ceramics$513 million$2 billion
20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables$510 million$5.5 billion
07 · Vegetables$500 million$5 billion
11 · Milling products and malt$483 million$682 million
59 · Coated and technical textiles$451 million$484 million
31 · Fertilizers$448 million$1.2 billion
86 · Railway equipment$445 million$982 million
09 · Coffee, tea and spices$439 million$2.2 billion
56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope$406 million$896 million
51 · Wool$356 million$308 million
96 · Other manufactured goods$332 million$1.4 billion
57 · Carpets and rugs$309 million$1.1 billion
10 · Cereals$303 million$2.3 billion
55 · Synthetic staple fibers$297 million$437 million
41 · Hides and leather$222 million$157 million
60 · Knitted fabric$168 million$175 million
65 · Hats$165 million$456 million
05 · Other animal products$165 million$218 million
58 · Special fabrics and lace$141 million$259 million
13 · Gums and plant extracts$128 million$250 million
52 · Cotton$123 million$245 million
12 · Oilseeds and grains$123 million$1.6 billion
36 · Explosives and matches$120 million$166 million
08 · Fruit and nuts$119 million$6.8 billion
37 · Photographic goods$109 million$364 million
24 · Tobacco$91 million$428 million
92 · Musical instruments$90 million$360 million
79 · Zinc$85 million$268 million
06 · Live plants and flowers$71 million$1.8 billion
53 · Other plant fibers$51 million$125 million
67 · Feathers and artificial flowers$30 million$339 million
50 · Silk$23 million$31 million
80 · Tin$17 million$203 million
43 · Fur and fur goods$15 million$55 million
66 · Umbrellas and canes$9 million$117 million
45 · Cork$9 million$69 million
46 · Wicker and basketware$3 million$113 million
14 · Other plant products$3 million$53 million

Trading partners

Its main destination is the United States (15.9% of exports) and its main source is China (13.4% of imports).

Who it sells to

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
United States64.315.9%Air
Germany36.29%Sea
Netherlands29.37.3%Sea
France28.67.1%Sea
Ireland23.85.9%Land
China18.34.5%Sea
United Arab Emirates12.23%Air
Belgium11.92.9%Sea
Hong Kong11.42.8%Air
Spain10.62.6%Sea

Who it buys from

PartnerValue (USD billions)ShareMode
China96.913.4%Sea
Germany76.410.6%Sea
United States679.3%Sea
France38.25.3%Sea
Italy31.64.4%Sea
Norway30.14.2%Sea
Netherlands273.7%Sea
Spain26.33.6%Sea
Ireland20.52.8%Land
Turkey19.42.7%Sea

Overview 1995–2024

In 2024, the United Kingdom accounted for 1.8% of world exports, compared with 4.6% in 1995.

Exports and imports

Exports grew 75% since 1995

USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 404
  • Imports 723
  • Balance -320

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$230.8 billion$263.9 billion-$33.1 billion
1996$250.7 billion$289.7 billion-$39 billion
1997$262.6 billion$307.1 billion-$44.5 billion
1998$258.1 billion$318.6 billion-$60.5 billion
1999$259.7 billion$324.4 billion-$64.7 billion
2000$276.5 billion$362.9 billion-$86.4 billion
2001$267.1 billion$349.2 billion-$82.1 billion
2002$267.2 billion$367.6 billion-$100.4 billion
2003$286.8 billion$417.7 billion-$130.9 billion
2004$329.1 billion$485.7 billion-$156.6 billion
2005$356.5 billion$515.1 billion-$158.6 billion
2006$384 billion$583.3 billion-$199.4 billion
2007$427.8 billion$644.9 billion-$217.1 billion
2008$457.1 billion$671.6 billion-$214.5 billion
2009$343 billion$492.8 billion-$149.8 billion
2010$384 billion$581.1 billion-$197.1 billion
2011$441.4 billion$670.8 billion-$229.4 billion
2012$438.4 billion$638 billion-$199.5 billion
2013$441.7 billion$647.2 billion-$205.4 billion
2014$464.5 billion$684.4 billion-$219.9 billion
2015$382.7 billion$626.7 billion-$244 billion
2016$374.5 billion$629.7 billion-$255.1 billion
2017$399.2 billion$631.3 billion-$232.1 billion
2018$440.5 billion$666 billion-$225.6 billion
2019$422.6 billion$663.7 billion-$241.1 billion
2020$363.8 billion$611.3 billion-$247.5 billion
2021$407.2 billion$680.1 billion-$272.9 billion
2022$451.8 billion$765.8 billion-$314 billion
2023$432.2 billion$744.1 billion-$311.9 billion
2024$403.6 billion$723.4 billion-$319.8 billion

World rank

The United Kingdom fell from 5th to 15th among the world's exporters

Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).

  • 5th in 1995
  • 15th in 2024

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearRank
19955th
19965th
19976th
19986th
19996th
20006th
20016th
20026th
20037th
20047th
20057th
20067th
20077th
20089th
20099th
201010th
201110th
201211th
201311th
201411th
201511th
201611th
201711th
201812th
201912th
202012th
202115th
202215th
202313th
202415th

What it sells

Its top export group is still mechanical machinery: 19% in 2024

% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.

  • Other 34%
  • Plastics 3%
  • Precision and medical instruments 5%
  • Gems and precious metals 5%
  • Electrical and electronic equipment 6%
  • Pharmaceuticals 6%
  • Oil, gas and coal 9%
  • Vehicles 12%
  • Mechanical machinery 19%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Chapter19952024
Mechanical machinery18.2%19%
Vehicles9.2%11.9%
Oil, gas and coal6.4%9%
Pharmaceuticals2.9%6.5%
Electrical and electronic equipment11.4%6.2%
Gems and precious metals4.2%5.1%
Precision and medical instruments3.4%4.8%
Plastics3.1%3.5%
Other41.2%34.1%

Who it trades with

China went from 1% to 10% of the United Kingdom's trade

% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.

  • United States 12%
  • China 10%
  • Germany 10%
  • France 6%
  • Netherlands 5%

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
United States11.7%11.7%
China1%10.2%
Germany13.8%10%
France9.7%5.9%
Netherlands6.6%5%

Production hubs

Largest industrial emission sources (Climate TRACE, 2025)

  • Central Graben basinOil and gas · 5.1 Mt CO₂e
  • Northern North Sea basinOil and gas · 3.1 Mt CO₂e
  • British Steel Scunthorpe plantSteel · 2.8 Mt CO₂e
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Largest economic production hubs (gridded GDP, 2024)

  • London$1.1 trillion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Manchester$544.7 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
  • Birmingham$356.7 billion (PPP, 2021 dollars)
View on the globe

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.

Neighboring countries

Main partners

See all countries