UK International Trade

Data Trade

Source: ONS
Source Link: https://www.ons.gov.uk/
Frequency: Monthly
Next Release(s): October 16th, 2025 2:00 AM

Latest Updates

The UK trade deficit was mostly unchanged at -£5.26 billion in July, slightly higher than -£5,02 billion in June. The goods trade balance was also mostly unchanged at -£22.24 billion (vs -£21.75 billion expected)
- UK goods imports rose +5.4% MoM in July while goods exports increased +6.6% MoM, reflecting a broad pickup across EU and non-EU trade but a still-wide overall deficit.
- In value terms, imports climbed £2.7 billion MoM (EU +£1.4 billion, +5.5%; non-EU +£1.3 billion, +5.4%), outpacing exports by £0.8 billion.
- Goods exports rose £1.9 billion MoM (+6.6%), driven by non-EU (+£1.2 billion, +8.5%) and EU (+£0.7 billion, +4.6%) shipments.
- After inflation adjustment (CVM), goods imports increased +£2.1 billion (+4.1%) MoM, with non-EU +£1.2 billion (+4.5%) and EU +£0.9 billion (+3.7%); goods exports rose +£1.5 billion (+5.2%) MoM (non-EU +£1.3 billion, +9.3%; EU +£0.2 billion, +1.4%).
- The total goods & services trade deficit widened by £0.4 billion to £10.3 billion in the three months to July, as imports grew faster than exports.
- The goods deficit widened by £3.0 billion to £61.9 billion over the three-month period, while the services surplus widened by £2.6 billion to £51.6 billion.
- U.S. trade: goods exports to the United States (incl. precious metals) rose £0.8 billion MoM on material manufactures, chemicals, and machinery/transport equipment, but remain below pre-tariff levels; imports from the U.S. fell £0.5 billion on lower aircraft.
- Commodity detail: EU import gains were led by machinery & transport equipment (+£0.6 billion), food & live animals (+£0.3 billion); non-EU imports were lifted by ships from South Korea (+£1.1 billion in machinery & transport equipment), partly offset by lower fuels (–£0.3 billion).
- Early services estimates: July services imports were broadly flat, while services exports dipped £0.2 billion (–0.4%) MoM, consistent with softer external demand noted by survey evidence.
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The UK trade deficit widened slightly from -£4.548 billion in May, to -£5,02 billion in June. The goods trade balance was mostly unchanged at -£22.16 billion (vs -£19.4 billion expected).
- The UK goods trade deficit widened to -£61.1 billion in Q2 2025, up £5.8 billion from Q1, as imports rose more than exports. The total goods and services trade deficit increased to -£9.2 billion despite a £4.1 billion widening in the services surplus to £51.9 billion.
- In June 2025, goods imports fell -£1.7 billion (-3.4%) MoM, with imports from the EU down -£1.3 billion (-4.8%) and from non-EU countries down -£0.4 billion (-1.7%).
- Goods exports fell -£1.9 billion (-6.3%) MoM, with non-EU exports down -£1.5 billion (-9.5%) and EU exports down -£0.4 billion (-2.9%).
- In chained volume terms, imports fell -3.6% MoM and exports fell -6.1% MoM.
- Exports to the U.S. dropped -£0.7 billion (-14.5%) MoM to their lowest level since Feb 2022, led by declines in chemicals (-£0.2B) and machinery & transport equipment (-£0.2B).
- Imports from the U.S. rose £0.2 billion MoM on higher aircraft imports; tariff-related trade impacts are expected to be more visible in July data following a late-June UK-U.S. trade deal.
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The UK goods trade deficit narrowed to -£21.7 billion in May, up from -£22.4 billion in April as rising exports outpaced an increase in imports.
- Goods imports rose 1.2% MoM in May to £50.1B, while goods exports also rose 2.2% MoM to £29.1B; the goods trade deficit was flat at -£21.0B.
- In chained volume terms, goods imports rose 2.2% MoM and goods exports rose 3.1% MoM.
- Goods exports to the U.S. rose £0.3B MoM, driven by chemical shipments, while goods imports from the U.S. fell -£0.9B MoM due to weaker fuel and machinery imports.
- Over the 3 months to May, goods imports increased £4.1B (+2.8%) and goods exports fell -£2.0B (-2.2%); services imports rose £2.3B (+2.7%) and services exports increased £1.7B (+1.2%).
- The trade in goods deficit widened to -£61.0B over the period, while the services surplus narrowed to £47.8B.
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The UK goods trade deficit widened to -£23.2 billion in April from -£19.9 billion in March, below expectations of a deficit of -£20.5 billion.
- Goods exports fell -8.8% MoM while goods imports increased 1.2% MoM.
- Goods exports to the U.S. fell -£2.0 billion MoM in April, the largest monthly drop on record, driven by reduced car, metal, and chemical exports following new U.S. tariffs.
- Exports to non-EU countries fell -12.6% MoM and EU exports fell -4.3% MoM; imports from non-EU countries declined -1.3% MoM while EU imports rose 1.0% MoM.
- In chained volume terms, goods exports were down -8.1% MoM and goods imports -1.6% MoM.
- Goods exports to the EU fell due to lower crude oil and auto shipments, while non-EU export declines were broad-based, led by cars and non-ferrous metals.
- Over the 3 months to April 2025, total exports rose 2.1% QoQ, but imports rose 4.2% QoQ—leading to a widening in the trade balance. Goods imports were up 4.3% QoQ; services imports rose 4.1% while exports rose 2.2%.
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The UK trade balance improved from -£4.856 billion in February (revised down from -£1.96 billion) to a narrower deficit of -£3.696 billion in March.
- Exports increased 0.6% MoM while imports fell by -0.9% MoM.
- The goods trade balance improved £0.6 billion to -£18.9 billion in March as goods exports outpaced a decline in goods imports.
- Goods exports to the EU increased 1.6% MoM, and EU goods imports increased 0.9% MoM.
- Non-EU exports were mostly unchanged at 0.1% MoM, but non-EU imports fell -2.5% MoM largely caused by a decline in imports of aircraft and gas from the US.
- Goods exports to the United States increased for the fourth consecutive month and are at the highest level since Q4 2022.
- In Q1 2025 as a whole, exports increased 5.0% QoQ (non-EU goods exports up 13.2% QoQ) and imports increased 3.2% QoQ pushing the trade balance up to £6.6 billion.
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The UK trade balance fell from a surplus of £0.3 billion in January to a deficit of £1.96 billion in February.
- Exports increased 0.2% MoM and was offset by a larger 3.2% MoM increase in imports.
- The goods trade balance fell from -£18.2 billion in January to -£20.8 billion in February, a larger-than-expected deficit.
- Goods exports fell -0.1% MoM while the imports of goods surged 5.2% MoM.
- The value of imports from non-EU countries increased by £1.3 billion (5.8% MoM) in February 2025. This was primarily because of a £1.0 billion increase in imports of machinery and transport equipment, linked to increased imports of aircraft from the United States.
- The total goods and services trade deficit narrowed by £7.5 billion to a deficit of £1.0 billion in the three months to February 2025, the lowest total trade deficit since the three months to July 2021.
- Exports of goods to the United States, including precious metals, increased by £0.5 billion in February 2025 and imports of goods, including precious metals, increased by £0.2 billion.
- Goods exports to the United States have increased for the third consecutive month and are at the highest level since November 2022.
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The UK trade balance improved from -£2.01 billion in December, to a small surplus of £0.54 billion in January.
- Exports increased 3.7% MoM to £75.7 billion, and imports increased 0.2% MoM to £75.1 billion.
- The value of goods exports rose by £1.8 billion (6.3% MoM) in January, because of a rise in exports to both EU and non-EU countries.
- Exports of goods to the United States increased by £0.1 billion, the second consecutive monthly rise, while imports of goods from the United States fell by £0.1 billion.
- The total goods and services trade deficit widened by £0.5 billion to -£5.7 billion in the three months to January, because imports rose more than exports.
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The UK trade deficit narrowed by £1.2 billion to -£16.9 billion in December as imports grew to end 2024.
- Imports fell -2.6% MoM as both EU and non-EU imports fell, by -3.3% MoM and -1.8% MoM respectively.
- Exports were unchanged overall with EU exports down -3.6% MoM while non-EU export growth of 3.5% Mom offset that decline.
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The UK goods trade balance increased slightly from -£19.33 billion to -£19.31 billion in November as exports increased 0.8% MoM and imports fell -0.6% MoM. This would be a slight positive contribution to GDP on the month. Non-EU exports grew 3.0% MoM while EU exports fell -1.3% MoM.

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The UK trade balance dropped -£2.7 bil to -£19.1 bil in October. Imports saw a sizeable increase of 5.8% MoM while exports actually fell -0.4% MoM. Both imports from the EU and outside the EU increased by similar rates, up 5.0% MoM and 6.9% MoM respectively. Imports increased over the month as a result of a rise of electrical machinery imports from China.

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