UK overseas trade in goods statistics: September 2021

This section is National Statistics

National Statistics logoFind UK overseas trade statistics data detailing international trade in goods at product and summary level.

EU and non-EU trade in goods

EU trade in goods

In September 2021:

  • EU exports were £13.4bn:
    • up by £1.7bn (15%) compared with August 2021
    • up by £0.6bn (5.0%) compared with September 2020
  • EU imports were £20.6bn:
    • up by £3.5bn (20%) compared with August 2021
    • down by £1.2bn (5.3%) compared with September 2020
  • for EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £7.2bn

Non-EU trade in goods

In September 2021:

  • Non-EU exports were £15.2bn:
    • up by £2.9bn (23%) compared with August 2021
    • up by £2.2bn (17%) compared with September 2020
  • Non-EU imports were £24.9bn:
    • up by £2.3bn (10%) compared with August 2021
    • down by £3.5bn (12%) compared with September 2020
  • for non-EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £9.7bn

Top trading partners

Top 5 trading partners by combined exports and imports value

Country

Exports value
(£ billion)

Change
since August
2021 (%)

Imports value
(£ billion)

Change
since August
2021 (%)

China

1.2

-9.5

6.2

20.8

Germany

2.3

3.6

4.8

16.6

USA

3.3

1.5

3.7

5.9

Netherlands

2.4

14.0

3.0

20.1

Switzerland

2.9

507.5

0.8

-22.2

Exports: top 5 trading partners

Country

Value (£ billion)

Change since August
2021 (%)

USA

3.3

1.5

Switzerland

2.9

507.5

Netherlands

2.4

14.0

Germany

2.3

3.6

Ireland

1.8

14.9

Imports: top 5 trading partners

Country

Value (£ billion)

Change since August
2021 (%)

China

 6.2

20.8

Germany

 4.8

16.6

USA

 3.7

5.9

Netherlands

 3.0

20.1

Norway

 2.6

43.6

Top traded commodities

Top 5 commodities by combined exports and imports value

Commodity

Exports value
(£ billion)

Change
since August
2021 (%)

Imports value
(£ billion)

Change
since August
2021 (%)

Mechanical appliances

4.5

30.9

5.2

20.8

Precious metals

4.0

76.1

4.5

-19.4

Mineral fuels

2.3

9.3

5.0

43.6

Motor vehicles

2.3

50.1

4.2

32.7

Electronic equipment

1.7

10.7

4.4

34.5

Top 5 exported commodities

Commodity

Value (£ billion)

Change since August
2021 (%)

Mechanical appliances

4.5

30.9

Precious metals

4.0

76.1

Motor vehicles

2.3

50.1

Mineral fuels

2.3

9.3

Electronic equipment

1.7

10.7

Top 5 imported commodities

Commodity

Value (£ billion)

Change since August
2021 (%)

Mechanical appliances

5.2

20.8

Mineral fuels

5.0

43.6

Precious metals

4.5

-19.4

Electronic equipment

4.4

34.5

Motor vehicles

4.2

32.7

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