uk trade in numbers

UK Trade in NumbersFebruary 2021

Disclaimer

The figures used in this pocketbook are the latest at the time of publication. We include figures from monthly and quarterly publications, such as ONS Balance of Payments, Trade in Services by Partner Country, GDP and UK monthly Trade figures.

At the time of publication the latest calendar year available for the majority of trade data sources and all foreign direct investment (FDI) sources is 2019, but some trade figures for 2020 are also included in this publication. As a result, some of the trade and investment figures report on a time period which pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst trade figures for 2020 reflect the impact of the pandemic on UK trade.

All data within this publication refer to trade and investment carried out before or during the EU exit transition period.

Often more up-to-date headline figures are available however a geographical breakdown is not available. Thus in some instances figures in the summary page may differ to other visuals presented.

UK and International sources do not always match. This can be due to exchange rate conversions used or delays in processing revisions. Readers are advised to reference sources and access the latest published statistics online.

Contact

This publication was produced by the Statistics and Data Science Team, if you have any enquiries about the content please contact [email protected]

1UK Trade in Numbers

ForewordWe are delighted to present this pocketbook of UK trade and investment statistics. Trade statistics are a fascinating aspect of economic statistics and are a substantial source of information to help inform how we meet the challenges of trade policy and promotion in the UK. The Coronavirus pandemic and associated lockdown measures in 2020 have impacted on the global economy including trade. It is important we therefore have a clear understanding of trade and investment statistics. Some of the figures within this publication suggest evidence of pandemic-related impacts.

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 Office for National Statistics (ONS) releases including the ONS UK monthly trade, ONS UK quarterly trade in services by partner country, UK Balance of Payments as well as the ‘Pink Book’.

These releases, alongside Trade in Value Added data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), set out the UK’s economic relationship with other countries on an internationally comparable basis. Beneath the surface is a wealth of data for us to understand and exploit for developing trade and investment policy. This pocketbook brings together and summarises trade statistics produced by ONS, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Department for International Trade (DIT), OECD and others into a single visual reference product.

mailto:statistics%40trade.gov.uk?subject=

ContentsForeword 1

Summary (calendar year) 4

Top 10 UK trading partners (2019) 6

UK exports of goods and services (2010 - 2020) 7

UK imports of goods and services (2010 - 2020) 7

Top 10 UK export markets for goods and services (2019) 8

Top 10 UK goods exports (2020) 10

Top 5 UK services exports (2019) 11

Top 10 UK import markets for goods and services (2019) 12

Top 10 UK goods imports (2020) 14

Top 5 UK services imports (2019) 15

UK total trade in goods and services (2010 - 2020) 16

UK trade in goods and trade in services balances (2010 - 2020) 16

World rankings for exports of goods and services (2005 - 2019) 17

World rankings for imports of goods and services (2005 - 2019) 17

Top 10 destinations for UK FDI (2019) 18

Top 10 investors in the UK (2019) 20

UK Inward FDI stocks (2010 - 2019) 22

Top 20 global destinations for FDI (2019) 22

UK Outward FDI stocks (2010 - 2019) 23

Top 20 global investors (2019) 23

Number of FDI projects into the UK and jobs created / safeguarded (2018-19 - 2019-20) 24

Number of FDI projects into the UK (2018 - 2019) 25

UK exports of goods by region (2019) 26

UK exports of services by region (2018) 28

2 UK Trade in Numbers 3UK Trade in Numbers

Summary (calendar year*)

UK Total trade: £1,153.0bn ( -18.0%)(2020**) Source: ONS UK Trade (December 2020)

of which (as % change since 2019):

Imports: £581.3bn ( -18.9%)

Exports: £571.7bn ( -17.1%)

Goods: £739.0bn ( -15.7%)

Services: £414.0bn ( -21.8%)

Source: ONS UK Trade (December 2020)

2019

EU: £662.1bn ( -0.4%)

Non-EU: £744.0bn (h 8.7%)

Source: ONS Balance of Payments (July to September 2020)

2020**

Trade as % of GDP: 54.6% ( -8.8 ppts)

Trade deficit as % of GDP: 0.5% ( -0.8 ppts)

Exports as % of GDP: 27.1% ( -4.0 ppts)

Source: ONS UK Trade (December 2020) and ONS GDP first quarterly estimate, UK (October to December 2020)

* Figures provided are for the latest calendar year where available (whilst figures in brackets show the change on the previous year).** During 2020 the UK, and many of its trading partners, introduced lockdown measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As the UK and most of its top trading partners have been significantly affected by COVID-19, figures for 2020 show evidence of COVID-19 related impacts on UK trade. However, the full effects cannot be quantified as impacts are generally embedded in source data and cannot be separately identified.


2018

Number of GB businesses exporting*: 233,900 ( -1.8%)

Proportion of GB businesses exporting*: 9.6% ( -0.4 ppts)

Source: ONS, Annual Business Survey, Great Britain Non-Financial Business Economy: 2018 Exporters and Importers.

*Experimental statistics. Only covers registered businesses in the GB non-financial business economy.

2019

Outward FDI Stock: £1,498.2bn (h 3.1%)

Inward FDI Stock: £1,558.6bn ( -0.9%)

Note: Data are on a directional basis Source: ONS Foreign Direct Investment Involving UK Companies: 2019

2019

Global Ranking: Outward FDI stock 4th (up from 5th in 2018)

Global Ranking: Inward FDI stock 2nd (up from 3rd in 2018)

Note: Data are on a directional basis Source: UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2020

Top 10 UK trading partners (2019)TOTAL TRADE RANK

Country

1 United States*

2 Germany

3 Netherlands

China

Total trade

£bn (% of total

trade)

229.9

(16.3%)

132.7

(9.4%)

92.0

(6.5%)

86.1

(6.1%)

% change

since 2018

h 11.6%

-2.1%

-3.6%

h 24.7%

UK exports £bn, to

(% of total

exports)

140.9

(20.4%)

55.1

(8.0%)

40.9

(5.9%)

36.7 h

(5.3%)

% change

since 2018

h 10.6%

-0.6%

-9.1%

53.3%

UK imports

£bn, from

(% of total imports)

89.0

(12.4%)

77.6

(10.8%)

51.1 h

(7.1%)

49.5 h

(6.9%)

44.7 h

% change

since 2018

h 13.2%

-3.2%

1.3%

9.5%4

5 France

6 Ireland

7 Spain

8 Belgium

9 Italy

10 Switzerland

85.4 h 2.8%

(6.1%)

65.7 -7.1%

(4.7%)

50.3 h 1.4%

(3.6%)

46.9

(3.3%)

-4.3%

44.6 -1.2%

(3.2%)

37.1 h 9.9%

(2.6%)

40.7 h 0.5%

(5.9%)

36.8 -9.0%

(5.3%)

18.7 -3.6%

(2.7%)

17.9

(2.6%)

19.3

(2.8%)

22.9 h

(3.3%)

-8.2%

-4.7%

6.5%

29.0

(4.0%)

25.3

(3.5%)

14.2

(2.0%)

h 1.7%

h 15.9%

5.0%

(6.2%)

28.9 -4.5%

(4.0%)

31.6 h 4.6%

(4.4%)

-1.8%

Note: These figures for countries are only available on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, therefore for aggregate totals we recommend users to use summary page 4. Summary page 4 provides seasonally adjusted figures showing totals for UK total trade with the World, EU and Non-EU.

* including Puerto Rico

Source: ONS UK Trade, quarterly trade in goods and services: July to September 2020

UK exports of goods and services (2010-2020*)

Bill

ions

(£)

2012 20132010 2011 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 202020170100200300400500600700800

266.

3

301.

8

187.

4

208.

1 298.

421

4.9 29

9.9

231.

9

289.

123

6.3

281.

724

1.7

297.

626

5.7 33

6.2

286.

7

351.

131

0.5

373.

031

6.3

311.

526

0.2

Total goods exports Total services exports Total exports


UK imports of goods and services (2010-2020*)

Bill

ions

(£)

2013 2014 20152010 2011 2012 2016 2017 2019 202020180100200300400500600700800

361.

612

3.2

399.

112

6.7

404.

812

9.7

418.

9

410.

013

7.9

397.

8

471.

6

430.

4

144.

3

153.

8

488.

0

427.

5503.

8

169.

0

181.

2

199.

1

213.

0

153.

8


Total goods imports Total services imports Total imports

* Figures for 2020 show evidence of COVID-19 related impacts on UK trade.


Top 10 UK export markets for goods and services (2019)

1

United States* £140.9bn (h 10.6%) (20.4%)

4

France £40.7bn (h 0.5%) (5.9%)

5

Ireland £36.8bn ( -9.0%) (5.3%)

10

Belgium £17.9bn ( -8.2%) (2.6%)

2

Germany £55.1bn ( -0.6%) (8.0%)

3

Netherlands £40.9bn ( -9.1%) (5.9%)

6

China £36.7bn (h 53.3%) (5.3%)

7

Switzerland £22.9bn (h 6.5%) (3.3%)

8

Italy £19.3bn ( -4.7%) (2.8%)

9

Spain £18.7bn ( -3.6%) (2.7%)

KEY Export market UK export value £bn, (% of total exports) rank(% change from 2018)

UK Exports

Note: These figures for countries are only available on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, therefore for aggregate totals, we recommend users to use summary page 4. Summary page 4 provides seasonally adjusted figures showing totals for UK total trade with the World, EU and Non-EU.

*including Puerto Rico Source: ONS UK Trade, quarterly trade in goods and services: July to September 2020


Top 10 UK goods exports (2020*)

Miscellaneous electrical goods (intermediate)

Non-ferrous metals

Medicinal & pharmaceutical products

Mechanical power generators (intermediate)

Precious metals

Aircraft

Organic chemicals

Scientific instruments (capital)

Cars

Crude oil

£21.1bn

£14.8bn

£11.0bn

£10.3bn

£9.5bn

£8.1bn

£16.4bn

£8.7bn

£21.6bn

£20.5bn

10 15 25 355 20 30

10 15 25 355 20 30

Billions (£) % of total goods exports

Billions (£) % change from 2019% of total goods exports

12345678910

6.8%

4.8%

3.6%

3.4%

3.1%

2.6%

5.3%

2.8%

7.0%

6.6%

0246810

0246810

-30.6%

-19.7%

57.4%

-8.7%

-42.3%

-24.3%

-28.8%

3.6%

-11.5%

-10.8%

% change from 2019

Total goods exports: £311.5bn Note: This list of goods includes oil and other erratic commodities, which are high value but traded at irregular intervals. The “erratics” series includes ships, aircraft, precious stones, works of art, silver and non-monetary gold.



Top 5 UK services exports (2019)

£60.8bn

£22.2bn

£30.0bn

£104.8bn

£41.3bn

-2.4%

-14.2%

19.8%

-1.7%

10.1%

05101520253035

5101520253035

20 40 60 80 100

% of total services exports

0 20 40 60 80 100

Billions (£) % change from 2018% of total services exports

12345

19.2%

7.0%

9.5%

33.1%

13.1%

Other business services*

Financial services

Travel services

Transport services

Telecomms, computer and information

Billions (£) % change from 2018

Total services exports: £316.3bn

*including professional, management consulting, techincal and trade-related services



Top 10 UK import markets for goods and services (2019)

2 Germany £77.6bn (i -3.2%) (10.8%)

5

France £44.7bn (h 5.0%) (6.2%)

6

Spain £31.6bn (h 4.6%) (4.4%)

Italy £25.3bn (h 1.7%) (3.5%)

9

1

United States* £89.0bn (h 13.2%) (12.4%)

3 Netherlands £51.1bn (h 1.3%) (7.1%)

4 China

£49.5bn (h 9.5%) (6.9%)

7 Belgium £29.0bn (i -1.8%) (4.0%)

8 Ireland

£28.9bn (i -4.5%) (4.0%)

10 Norway

£17.8bn (i -18.2%) (2.5%)

KEY Import market UK import value £bn, (% change from 2018)

rankUK Imports(% of total imports)

Note: These figures for countries are only available on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, therefore for aggregate totals, we recommend users to use summary page 4. Summary page 4 provides seasonally adjusted figures showing totals for UK total trade with the World, EU and Non-EU.

*including Puerto Rico

Source: ONS UK Trade, quarterly trade in goods and services: July to September 2020


Top 10 UK goods imports (2020*)

Clothing

Medicinal and pharmaceutical products

Miscellaneous electrical goods (intermediate)

Telecoms and sound equipment (capital)

Mechanical power generators (intermediate)

Non-ferrous metals

Other manufactures (consumer)

Cars

Office machinery (capital)

Crude oil

£22.0bn

£14.2bn

£14.0bn

£13.7bn

£12.9bn

£12.3bn

£18.4bn

£13.1bn

£26.5bn

£20.5bn

% of total goods imports

% of total goods imports

12345678910

5.2%

3.4%

3.3%

3.2%

3.1%

2.9%

4.4%

3.1%

6.3%

4.8%

-21.3%

-7.2%

-6.1%

5.2%

-1.4%

-33.0%

12.8%

-5.0%

-17.8%

-36.9%



10 15 25 355 20 300246810

10 15 25 355 20 300246810

Total goods imports: £427.5bnNote: This list of goods includes oil and other erratic commodities, which are high value but traded at irregular intervals. The “erratics” series includes ships, aircraft, precious stones, works of art, silver and non-monetary gold.



Top 5 UK services imports (2019)

£13.8bn

£18.9bn

£27.3bn

05101520253035 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

% of total services imports

05101520253035 10 20 30 40 50 60

% of total services imports

70

12345 6.5%

8.9%

12.8% Transport services

Financial services

Intellectual property

22.8%

14.3%

1.4%



£69.4bn

26.4%Travel services

7.0 %

£56.3bn 6.0%

32.6%Other business services*

Total services imports: £213.0bn

*including professional, management consulting, technical and trade-related services



UK total trade in goods and services (2010 - 2020*)

UK trade in goods and trade in services balances (2010 - 2020*)

Bill

ions

(£)

20122010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 20202017-150-120-90-60-30

0306090

120

-95.

464

.3-9

7.3

81.4

-106

.485

.2

-119

.0

92.0

-121

.0

94.0

-135

.4

87.9

96.7

-136

.8

-116

.1

-132

.8

-130

.8

-116

.0

103.

3

106.

4

105.

5

111.

4

Trade in goods balance Trade in services balance Total trade balance



2012 20132010 2011 2014 2015 2016 2018 2019 202020170200400600800

1,0001,2001,4001,600

627.

931

0.6

700.

933

4.8

703.

234

4.6

718.

836

9.8

699.

138

0.5 67

9.5

395.

572

7.9

434.

780

7.8

839.

1

467.

8

509.

6

876.

752

9.3 73

9.0

414.

0

Bill

ions

(£)

Total trade in goods Total trade in services Total trade


World rankings for exports of goods and services (2005 - 2019)

Wor

ld R

anki

ng 1

2

3

4

5

6

2007 200820062005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019*

China United States Germany Japan France UK

* estimated Source: UNCTAD

World rankings for imports of goods and services (2005 - 2019)

Wor

ld R

anki

ng 1

2

3

4

5

6

2007 200820062005 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019*

China United States Germany Japan France UK

* estimated Source: UNCTAD


Top 10 destinations for UK FDI (2019)

Outward FDI stock, directional basis

The United States was the top destination

(2.9%)

for UK investment at the end of 2019.

1

United States* £379.7bn (h 12.7%) (25.3%) 5

France £75.2bn ( -9.3%) (5.0%)

4

Spain £75.2bn (h 0.7%) (5.0%)

8Jersey £43.8bn (h 9.6%)

7Ireland £55.0bn (h 5.2%) (3.7%)

2 Netherlands £155.7bn ( -3.7%) (10.4%)

3Luxembourg £95.9bn ( -15.7%) (6.4%)

6Hong Kong £70.5bn ( -2.2%) (4.7%)

9Switzerland £38.4bn ( -16.2%) (2.6%)

10Australia £37.3bn ( -9.1%) (2.5%)

FDI statistics are compiled on the basis of the

KEY Investment destination Outward FDI stock £bn, (% change from 2018) (% of total outward FDI stock)

rankOutward FDI stock


UK FDI in the EU £602.4bn ( -0.8%) (40.2%)

UK FDI in the Non-EU £895.8bn (h 5.9%) (59.8%)

Total UK FDI abroad £1,498.2bn (h 3.1%) (100%)

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 geographicaldistribution of FDI flows and FDI rankings.

Source: Foreign Direct Investment involving UK

companies 2019, ONS (FDI stocks, directional basis)


Top 10 investors in the UK (2019)

Inward FDI stock, directional basis

The United States was the top investor in the UK at the end of 2019.

1

United States* £381.6bn ( -12.2%) (24.5%) 5

Jersey £95.5bn ( -10.1%) (6.1%)

8France £71.3bn (h 13.4%) (4.6%)

10Spain £50.0bn ( -0.4%) (3.2%)

2Netherlands £167.2bn (h 17.9%) (10.7%)

3Luxembourg £134.3bn (h 23.6%) (8.6%)

4

Belgium £116.4bn ( -1.3%) (7.5%)

6

Japan £90.5bn (h 0.6%) (5.8%)

7Germany £89.7bn ( -0.3%) (5.8%)

9

Switzerland £64.9bn (h 3.2%) (4.2%)

FDI statistics are compiled on the basis of the

KEY Source country Inward FDI stock £bn, (% change from 2018) (% of total inward FDI stock)

rankInward FDI stock


EU FDI in the UK £681.0bn (h 10.4%) (43.7%)

Non-EU FDI in the UK £877.6bn ( -8.2%) (56.3%)

Total FDI in the UK £1,558.6bn ( -0.9%) (100%)

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.

Source: Foreign Direct Investment involving UK

companies 2019, ONS (FDI stocks, directional basis)


UK Inward FDI stocks (2010 - 2019)

Source: EU Source: Non-EU

Bill

ions

(£)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 20182017 20190

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

347 366452 462 490 441

591552

956

335 382461 456

523 592

801636

682 749913 918

1,013 1,0331,187

1,5731,392

1,559

617 681

878

Note: Data are on a directional basis Source: ONS Foreign Direct Investment Involving UK

Companies: 2019

Top 20 global destinations for FDI (2019)

Source: UNCTAD

Note: Data are on a directional basis * Directional basis calculated from asset/liability basis ** Asset/liability basis *** includes Liechtenstein

9,4662,075

1,7691,7501,6981,3511,1201,037

953869826752714641628566515464446

1,868

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000

United StatesUnited Kingdom

Hong Kong*China

NetherlandsSingapore**

Switzerland***Ireland

CanadaGermany

FranceBritish Virgin Islands

SpainAustralia

BrazilMexico**Belgium

Cayman IslandsRussia

Italy

Billions ($)

UK Outward FDI stocks (2010 - 2019)

Destination: EU Destination: Non-EU

Bill

ions

(£)

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 20182017 20190

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

607 602

8961,453

565

513

557

561

505

569

455

636

445

634

456

628

578

696

597

7731,077 1,118 1,073 1,091 1,079 1,084

1,2751,369

1,498

846

Note: Data are on a directional basis Source: ONS Foreign Direct Investment Involving UK

Companies: 2019

Top 20 global investors (2019)


Source: UNCTAD

Note: Data are on a directional basis * Directional basis calculated from asset/liability basis ** Asset/liability basis *** includes Liechtenstein

7,7222,565

1,9491,8181,7941,7191,6521,5331,526

1,1061,085911656607579558443440397

2,099

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000

United StatesNetherlands

ChinaUnited Kingdom

JapanHong Kong*

GermanyCanadaFrance

Switzerland***Singapore**

IrelandBritish Virgin Islands

BelgiumSpain

AustraliaItaly

CyprusSouth Korea

Sweden

Billions ($)

Number of FDI projects into the UK and jobs created / safeguarded (2018-19 - 2019-20)

2018-19 2019-20 % change

Total projects 1,782 1,852 h 3.9%

Involved projects 1,436 1,449 h 0.9%

Total Jobs 64,623 65,138 h 0.8%

New jobs 57,625 56,117 -2.6%

Safeguarded jobs 6,998 9,021 h 28.9%

Projects by investors new

to the UK 756

2019-20 Total Projects

1,852

Projects by existing investors in the UK 1,096

Source: Department for International Trade inward investment results 2019 to 2020

Number of FDI projects into the UK (2018 - 2019)

The fDi Report 2020 and 2019: Number of UK Inward FDI Projects in 2019 remained similar to 2018

Country 2018 2019 % change

UK 1,278 1,271 -1%

Germany* 568 702 h 24%

Spain 551 658 h 19%

France* 588 500 -15%

Poland 323 373 h 15%

Netherlands 275 314 h 14%

The EY UK Attractiveness Survey 2019 and 2020: Number of UK Inward FDI Projects increased by 5% in 2019

Country 2018 2019 % change

France 1,027 1,197 h 17%

UK 1,054 1,109 h 5%

Germany 973 971 n 0%

Source: The fDi Report 2020 (2019 figures), The fDi Report 2019 (2018 figures), Financial Times, and The EY UK Attractiveness Survey 2018 and 2019

Notes: EY and FT (supported fDi Markets), publish data on greenfield FDI only, and report on a calendar year basis.

DIT reports on greenfield and M&A FDI on a financial year basis.

* Data for Germany and France in the fDi report 2020 was underestimated.


UK exports of goods by region (2019)

Of the total UK goods exports in 2019, £254.7bn (73%) were from England. The English region with the highest value of exports was the South East, which exported £46.7bn worth of goods, 13% of the total value of UK goods exports.

The English region or UK country with the highest growth in goods exports during 2019 was London, where the value of goods exports grew by 17%.

The East Midlands and Scotland also achieved high levels of goods export growth during 2019, increasing by 10% and 5% respectively. Five English regions, the North West, Yorkshire and The Humber, the West Midlands, South East and South West, saw decreases in the value of goods exported in 2019 compared to 2018.

Source: HMRC, Regional Trade Statistics: Q3 (July to September 2020)

Notes:

1. The ONS UK T rade (December 2020) publication currently provides the best estimate for the total value of UK exports of goods in 2019 and 2020 which is £373.0bn and £311.5bn respectively. This is not directly comparable with the HMRC estimates presented here due to differences in coverage and methodology.

2. The sum of exports of goods by r egion does not add up to 100% as 9.3% (£32.3bn) of goods exported from the UK in 2019 cannot be allocated to a region.

3. These data ar e not comparable with the ONS regional trade in services data on pages 28 and 29 due to differences in coverage and methodology.

0.0 – 10.0

10.1 – 20.0

20.1 – 30.0

30.1 – 40.0

≥ 40.1

Key: £ billions (% change from 2018)

Scotland £33.8bn (h 5.0%)

Northern Ireland £9.2bn (h 2.9%)

North West 27.3bn ( -1.9%)

West Midlands 31.7bn ( -5.2%)

Wales £17.8bn (h 3.4%)

South West 21.3bn ( -0.8%)

North East £13.3bn (h 0.8%)

Yorkshire and The Humber £17.1bn ( -5.8%)

East Midlands £24.4bn (h 10.1%)

East of England £29.1bn (h 2.7%)

London £43.9bn (h 17.1%)

South East 46.7bn ( -0.7%)

£

£

£

£

27UK Trade in Numbers26 UK Trade in Numbers

UK exports of services by region (2018)

Source: ONS, International trade in services by subnational areas of the UK: 2018

Notes:

1. The ONS UK T rade (December 2020) publication currently provides the best estimate for the total value of UK exports of services in 2018, £310.5bn.

2. Experimental statistics (i.e. not yet fully developed).

3. These data ar e not comparable with the HMRC regional trade in goods data on pages 26 and 27 due to differences in coverage and methodology.

Of the total UK services exports in 2018, £275.2bn (90%) were from England. The English region with the highest value of exports was London, which exported £136.4bn in services, 44% of the total value of services exported by the UK.

The English regions or UK countries with the highest growth in services exports were West Midlands (exporting 51% more services during 2018 than 2017), Yorkshire and The Humber (up 26%), the North East (up 25%), and London (up 17%).

Five English regions or UK countries saw decreases in the value of services exports in 2018 compared to 2017, among which were Northern Ireland and Wales (down 12% and 10% respectively).

Scotland £21.7bn ( -0.9%)

Northern Ireland £2.5bn ( -11.9%)

North West £20.9bn (h 8.5%)

West Midlands £17.4bn (h 51.3%)

Wales £7.4bn ( -9.9%)

South West £12.8bn ( -4.6%)

North East £6.9bn (h 24.7%)

Yorkshire and The Humber £12.1bn (h 25.8%)

East Midlands £8.5bn (h 12.2%)

East of England £18.1bn (h 3.8%)

London £136.4bn (h 17.0%)

South East £42.1bn ( -5.9%)

Key: £ billions (% change since 2017)

0.0 – 5.0

5.1 – 10.0

10.1 – 15.0

15.1 – 40.0

≥ 40.1

29UK Trade in Numbers28 UK Trade in Numbers

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Published 25th February 2021 by Department for International Trade

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