globaltraffic.earth

Trade between China and the United Kingdom

In 2024, China exported $96.9 billion to the United Kingdom and imported $18.3 billion. China ran a surplus of $78.6 billion with the United Kingdom, compared with a surplus of $35.9 billion in 2019. The United Kingdom was China’s 16th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was the United Kingdom’s 2nd (10%).

Summary

China → United Kingdom
$96.9billion
United Kingdom → China
$18.3billion
China’s balance
$78.6billion

Balance

China’s trade balance with the United Kingdom

Trade between China and the United Kingdom grew 22.8-fold since 1995

USD billions (current). China’s exports and imports; bars: its balance (green surplus, red deficit).

  • Exports 96.9
  • Imports 18.3
  • Balance +78.6

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
YearExportsImportsTrade balance
1995$3.2 billion$1.8 billion$1.3 billion
1996$3.7 billion$1.6 billion$2 billion
1997$4.3 billion$1.9 billion$2.4 billion
1998$5.3 billion$1.9 billion$3.3 billion
1999$6 billion$2.7 billion$3.3 billion
2000$15.4 billion$3.3 billion$12.1 billion
2001$16.5 billion$3.3 billion$13.2 billion
2002$18.7 billion$3.2 billion$15.5 billion
2003$23 billion$3.8 billion$19.2 billion
2004$29.2 billion$4.9 billion$24.3 billion
2005$34.9 billion$5.9 billion$28.9 billion
2006$40.7 billion$6.5 billion$34.2 billion
2007$52.8 billion$8.1 billion$44.8 billion
2008$55.5 billion$9.6 billion$45.9 billion
2009$46 billion$8 billion$38 billion
2010$59.7 billion$11.2 billion$48.5 billion
2011$63.9 billion$14.2 billion$49.7 billion
2012$56.7 billion$16 billion$40.7 billion
2013$58.2 billion$18.1 billion$40.1 billion
2014$65 billion$26.7 billion$38.3 billion
2015$64.8 billion$17 billion$47.9 billion
2016$60.9 billion$19 billion$41.9 billion
2017$60.8 billion$21.9 billion$38.8 billion
2018$63.3 billion$25.1 billion$38.1 billion
2019$66.3 billion$30.3 billion$35.9 billion
2020$75.6 billion$18.1 billion$57.5 billion
2021$86.4 billion$22.8 billion$63.6 billion
2022$108 billion$37.1 billion$70.9 billion
2023$98.3 billion$35.5 billion$62.8 billion
2024$96.9 billion$18.3 billion$78.6 billion

What they sell each other

What China sells to the United Kingdom

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cameras and broadcast equipment$9.4 billion · 9.7%
    21 thousand tonnes
  2. Computers$7.9 billion · 8.2%
    34 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  3. Cars$5.1 billion · 5.3%
    327 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  4. Computer and office machine parts$2.6 billion · 2.6%
    64 thousand tonnes
  5. Furniture$2 billion · 2.1%
    667 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  6. Batteries$1.9 billion · 2%
    114 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  7. Toys$1.8 billion · 1.9%
    188 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations
  8. Seats and chairs$1.7 billion · 1.8%
    326 thousand tonnes
  9. Electric heaters and hair dryers$1.5 billion · 1.6%
    217 thousand tonnes
  10. Silver$1.5 billion · 1.5%
    2 thousand tonnes · China’s destinations

What the United Kingdom sells to China

The top 10 headings in 2024, with their share of the total.

  1. Cars$4.3 billion · 23.3%
    100 thousand tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  2. Medicines in measured doses or retail packs$1.1 billion · 5.8%
    1 thousand tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  3. Crude petroleum$1 billion · 5.7%
    1.8 million tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  4. Copper scrap$744 million · 4.1%
    94 thousand tonnes
  5. Makeup and skin care$682 million · 3.7%
    3 thousand tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  6. Turbojets and gas turbines$654 million · 3.6%
    331 tonnes · the United Kingdom’s destinations
  7. Physical and chemical analysis instruments$377 million · 2.1%
    549 tonnes
  8. Other industrial machines$372 million · 2%
    2 thousand tonnes
  9. Spirits$317 million · 1.7%
    24 thousand tonnes
  10. Aluminum scrap$276 million · 1.5%
    118 thousand tonnes

How it travels

Estimated sea route from Shanghai to Felixstowe.

The estimated sea route between Shanghai and Felixstowe is 14,118 nautical miles (26,146 km) long: ≈ 32.5–42 days at sea (at 18 and 14 knots).

Because of the 2024 disruptions, traffic is split: 85% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Dover (14,118 nautical miles); and 15% via the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Strait of Dover (10,603 nautical miles).

Sailing estimate without port calls, waiting or transshipment; not a schedule. One main reference port per country: in large countries it does not represent all of its ports.

Split by transport mode

  1. Sea$81.1 billion · 70.4%
  2. Air$34.1 billion · 29.6%

Mode estimated from value per kilo and geography; both directions together.

How much each matters to the other

The United Kingdom was China’s 16th largest trading partner (2% of its trade), and China was the United Kingdom’s 2nd (10%).

The United Kingdom in China’s trade
2%
The United Kingdom’s rank among China’s partners
16th
China in the United Kingdom’s trade
10.2%
China’s rank among the United Kingdom’s partners
2nd

Compare with

Other partners of China

Other partners of the United Kingdom

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. The sea route comes from our own network derived from World Bank shipping density (not from nautical charts), between one main reference port per country (World Port Index); days are the distance at 14 and 18 knots, without port calls or waiting. Data up to 2024.