UK overseas trade in goods statistics: August 2021

This section is National Statistics

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EU and non-EU trade in goods

EU trade in goods

In August 2021:

  • EU exports were £11.6bn:
    • down by £1.5bn (11%) compared with July 2021
    • up by £0.9bn (7.9%) compared with August 2020
  • EU imports were £17.0bn:
    • down by £2.0bn (11%) compared with July 2021
    • up by £0.1bn (0.9%) compared with August 2020
  • for EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £5.4bn

Non-EU trade in goods

In August 2021:

  • Non-EU exports were £12.4bn:
    • down by £1.4bn (9.9%) compared with July 2021
    • up by £0.3bn (2.3%) compared with August 2020
  • Non-EU imports were £22.6bn:
    • down by £0.6bn (2.6%) compared with July 2021
    • down by £1.2bn (5.1%) compared with August 2020
  • for non-EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £10.2bn

Top trading partners

Top 5 trading partners by combined exports and imports value

Country

Exports value
(£ billion)

Change
since July
2021 (%)

Imports value
(£ billion)

Change
since July
2021 (%)

USA

3.2

-14.4

3.5

1.2

China

1.3

7.4

5.1

6.5

Germany

2.2

-8.4

4.1

-11.9

Netherlands

2.0

-2.6

2.4

-6.9

France

1.4

-20.8

1.8

2.0

Exports: top 5 trading partners

Country

Value (£ billion)

Change since July
2021 (%)

USA

3.2

-14.4

Germany

2.2

-8.4

Netherlands

2.0

-2.6

Ireland

1.6

-7.2

France

1.4

-20.8

Imports: top 5 trading partners

Country

Value (£ billion)

Change since July
2021 (%)

China

 5.1

6.5

Germany

 4.1

-11.9

USA

 3.5

1.2

Netherlands

 2.4

-6.9

Belgium

 1.9

-4.4

Top traded commodities

Top 5 commodities by combined exports and imports value

Commodity

Exports value
(£ billion)

Change   since July
2021 (%)

Imports value
(£ billion)

Change
since July
2021 (%)

Precious metals

2.2

20.5

5.5

8.9

Mechanical appliances

3.4

-25.3

4.3

-9.9

Mineral fuels

2.0

-6.1

3.5

-15.0

Electronic equipment

1.5

-5.8

3.3

-9.9

Motor vehicles

1.6

-32.8

3.2

-12.5

Top 5 exported commodities

Commodity

Value (£ billion)

Change since July
2021 (%)

Mechanical appliances

3.4

-25.3

Precious metals

2.2

20.5

Mineral fuels

2.0

-6.1

Pharmaceutical products

1.6

1.3

Motor vehicles

1.6

-32.8

Top 5 imported commodities

Commodity

Value (£ billion)

Change since July
2021 (%)

Precious metals

5.5

8.9

Mechanical appliances

4.3

-9.9

Mineral fuels

3.5

-15.0

Electronic equipment

3.3

-9.9

Motor vehicles

3.2

-12.5

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