1. UK trade in numbers introduction
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 International Trade (DIT), 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 trade and investment rankings.
More information on the data sources used in the UK trade in numbers publication are available in the UK trade in numbers: sources.
This latest publication of the UK trade in numbers includes data updates from:
- ONS UK trade: March 2022 (published 12 May 2022)
- ONS UK total trade: all countries October to December 2021 (published 28 April 2022)
The next published update to the UK trade in numbers will be 20 June 2022.
This will include data updates from:
- ONS UK trade: April 2022 (due for release 13 June 2022)
- UNCTAD World Investment Report 2022 (due for release 9 June 2022)
2. UK trade summary statistics
From January 2022, HMRC data collection methodology has changed for both EU goods imports and EU goods exports. The ONS have published an accompanying blog providing more detail on the changes. Caution should be taken when interpreting trade with the EU for periods that include January 2022 data.
2.1 Value of UK total trade in the 12 months to the end of March 2022
£1,343.2 billion
up 13.3% on the previous 12 months
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
2.2 UK trade in 12 months to the end of March 2022
| Trade direction | Value £billion | % change since previous 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| UK Exports | 643.4 | 8.7% |
| UK Imports | 699.8 | 17.9% |
Download more detailed data on UK trade in 12 months to end of March 2022 in open document spreadsheet (ods) format
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
2.3 UK trade with EU and non-EU countries in 4 quarters to the end of December 2021
| Trade direction | Value £billion | % change since previous 4 quarters |
|---|---|---|
| UK Exports to the EU | 261.8 | 3.1% |
| UK Imports from the EU | 293.9 | -3.2% |
| UK Exports to the non-EU | 363.6 | 2.2% |
| UK Imports from the non-EU | 360.6 | 20.2% |
Download more detailed data on UK trade with EU and non-EU countries in 4 quarters to end of December 2021 in ods format
Source: ONS balance of payments October to December 2021
Next release: 30 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
2.4 Number of GB businesses exporting 2019
245,200
Source: ONS Annual Business Survey exporters and importers 2019
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: estimates only cover registered businesses (for VAT and/or PAYE) in the GB (excludes Northern Ireland) non-financial business economy, which accounts for around two-thirds of the economy in terms of gross value added.
Response rates for 2019 data were impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Figures for 2019 should not be compared to figures from previous years.
2.5 Proportion of GB businesses exporting 2019
10.2%
Source: ONS Annual Business Survey exporters and importers 2019
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: Estimates only cover registered businesses (for VAT and/or PAYE) in the GB (excludes Northern Ireland) non-financial business economy, which accounts for around two-thirds of the economy in terms of gross value added.
Response rates for 2019 data were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Figures for 2019 should not be compared to figures from previous years.
3. Export statistics
3.1 UK exports of goods and services over time
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
3.2 UK export markets for goods and services 4 quarters to the end of December 2021
Download more detailed data on UK export markets for goods and services in 4 quarters to end of December 2021 in ods format
Source: ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted, October to December 2021
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
3.3 Top 10 UK goods exports 12 months to the end of March 2022
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, non-seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis.
Goods classifications as reported by the ONS, derived from Standard International Trade Classifications (SITC).
Unspecified goods includes non-monetary gold and other precious metals (silver, platinum, palladium), parcel post, low value trade, coins, and defence equipment.
3.4 Top 5 UK services exports 4 quarters to the end of December 2021
Source: ONS balance of payments October to December 2021
Next release: 30 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis.
‘Other business services’ comprises professional and management consulting services including legal, accounting, management consulting, public relations, advertising, and market research; technical and trade-related business services including architectural, engineering, and scientific services; and research and development services.
3.5 Global ranking: exports of goods and services
In 2020 the UK ranked
6th
no change from 2019
Download detailed data on global rankings for exports of goods and services in ods format
Source: UNCTAD Goods and Services (BPM6)
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: figures in US dollars, current prices, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
4. Import statistics
4.1 UK imports of goods and services over time
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
4.2 UK import markets for goods and services 4 quarters to the end of December 2021
Download more detailed data on UK import markets for goods and services 4 quarters to end of December 2021 in ods format
Source: ONS Total trade all countries, seasonally adjusted, October to December 2021
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
4.3 Top 10 UK goods imports 12 months to the end of March 2022
Source: ONS UK trade March 2022
Next release: 13 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, non-seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis.
Goods classifications as reported by the ONS, derived from Standard International Trade Classifications (SITC).
4.4 Top 5 UK services imports 4 quarters to the end of December 2021
Source: ONS balance of payments October to December 2021
Next release: 30 June 2022
Notes: figures in current prices, seasonally adjusted, on a balance of payments basis.
‘Other business services’ comprises professional and management consulting services including legal, accounting, management consulting, public relations, advertising, and market research; technical and trade-related business services including architectural, engineering, and scientific services; and research and development services.
4.5 Global ranking: imports of goods and services
In 2020 the UK ranked
6th
down from 4th in 2019
Download detailed data on global ranking of imports of goods and services in ods format
Source: UNCTAD Goods and Services (BPM6)
Next release: tbc 2022
Notes: figures in US dollars, current prices, on a balance of payments basis. Figures include non-monetary gold and other precious metals.
5. Regional trade statistics
5.1 UK exports by UK nations and English regions 2019
Download more detailed data on exports by UK nations and regions 2019 in ods format
Source: ONS international trade in UK nations, regions and cities: 2019
Next release: 5 July 2022 (provisional)
Notes: figures are in current prices, on a balance of payments basis. Figures exclude non-monetary gold.
Trade data is allocated to each region by linking to data in the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) and then apportioning by employment count data.
5.2 UK imports by UK nations and English regions 2019
Download more detailed data on imports by UK nations and regions 2019 in ods format
Source: ONS international trade in UK nations, regions and cities: 2019
Next release: 5 July 2022 (provisional)
Notes: figures are in current prices, on a balance of payments basis. Figures exclude non-monetary gold.
Trade data is allocated to each region by linking to data in the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) and then apportioning by employment count data.
6. Foreign direct investment statistics
The ONS have implemented several improvements to their FDI survey methodology for the 2020 release . Changes to stratification methods and sampling population increases have affected the results and led to an increase in reported FDI figures, particularly for inward FDI, in 2020.
As a result of these improvements, we advise caution when interpreting the 2020 results as some increases since 2019 may be due to the methodology changes.
6.1 Total value of UK inward FDI stock 2020
£1,929.2 billion
up 17.6% compared to 2019
Download more detailed data on total value of UK inward FDI stock 2020 in ods format
Source: ONS foreign direct investment involving UK companies 2020
Next release: tbc
Notes: figures are in current prices on a directional basis.
6.2 Top 10 investors in the UK 2020
Download more detailed data on top investors in the UK in 2020 in ods format
Next release: tbc
Notes: figures are in current prices, on a directional basis.
FDI statistics are compiled on the basis of the immediate, rather than the ultimate, partner country. Pass-through investment often leads to an overstatement of investments in or from big financial centres, or countries offering favourable tax terms to investors, distorting the geographical distribution of FDI flows and FDI rankings.
6.3 Global ranking inward FDI stock
In 2020 the UK ranked
3rd
down from 2nd in 2019
Download more detailed data on global ranking of inward investment stock in ods format
Source: UNCTAD Foreign Direct Investment
Next release: 9 June 2022
Notes: figures are in US dollars, current prices, on a directional basis.
6.4 Number of FDI projects into the UK and jobs created/safeguarded
| Measure | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | %change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total projects | 1,852 | 1,538 | -17.0% |
| Involved projects (DIT supported) | 1,449 | 1,131 | -21.9% |
| Estimated economic impact of involved projects (£m) | 3,091 | 3,875 | 25.4% |
| New jobs | 56,117 | 55,319 | -1.4% |
| Safeguarded jobs | 9,021 | 18,187 | 101.6% |
Source: DIT inward investment results 2020 to 2021
Next release: tbc 2022
6.5 Total value of UK outward FDI stock 2020
£1,660.9bn
up 0.8% compared to 2019
Download more detailed data on total value of UK outward FDI stock 2020 in ods format
Source: ONS foreign direct investment involving UK companies 2020
Next release: tbc
Notes: figures are in current prices on a directional basis.
6.6 Top 10 destinations for UK FDI 2020
Download more detailed data on top 10 destinations for UK FDI 2020 in ods format
Next release: tbc
Notes: figures are in current prices, on a directional basis.
FDI statistics are compiled on the basis of the immediate, rather than the ultimate, partner country. Pass-through investment often leads to an overstatement of investments in or from big financial centres, or countries offering favourable tax terms to investors, distorting the geographical distribution of FDI flows and FDI rankings.
6.7 Global ranking outward FDI stock
In 2020 the UK ranked
4th
no change compared to 2019
Download more detailed data on global ranking of outward FDI stock in ods format
Source: UNCTAD Foreign Direct Investment
Next release: 9 June 2022
Notes: figures are in US dollars, current prices, on a directional basis.