UK regional trade in goods statistics: fourth quarter 2021
This section is National Statistics
Find data on the UK's international trade in goods at summary and product level, by UK regions and devolved administrations.
The combined effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) national and international lockdown restrictions and EU exit uncertainty have all been contributing factors to the erratic nature of recent UK and global trade. We encourage users to apply caution when making comparisons of trade movements over time.
Summary of trade trends
In the 12 months ending December 2021:
- all UK countries apart from Northern Ireland saw an increase in the value of exports, compared with the previous 12 months
- all UK countries experienced an increase in the value of imports compared with the previous 12 months.
- export values increased for all English regions, except the East Midlands, compared with the previous 12 months.
- import values increased for all English regions, except the East, compared with the previous 12 months.
UK total trade and trade by UK country
UK total trade and trade by UK country: year to December 2021 compared with the previous 12 months
|
Exports |
Change in year (%) |
Imports |
Change in year (%) |
|
|
UK |
309.9 |
6.6 |
461.2 |
9.0 |
|
England |
226.6 |
6.7 |
360.0 |
9.2 |
|
Wales |
15.2 |
12.4 |
16.1 |
13.2 |
|
Scotland |
27.0 |
1.6 |
24.8 |
24.1 |
|
Northern Ireland |
7.8 |
-0.9 |
7.8 |
12.8 |
Note: UK figures includes trade that cannot be allocated to a region.
Top trading partners by UK country, year to December 2021
You can create and explore more UK country data in the interactive data tables.
Top trading partners by trade value
|
Exports |
Value |
Imports |
Value |
|
|
England |
USA |
34.5 |
Germany |
47.4 |
|
Wales |
Germany |
2.4 |
USA |
2.1 |
|
Scotland |
Netherlands |
4.3 |
Norway |
6.1 |
|
Northern Ireland |
Ireland |
3.1 |
Ireland |
2.8 |
Partner countries with largest increase in value compared with previous year
|
Exports |
Imports |
|
|
England |
Netherlands |
China |
|
Wales |
Belgium |
Spain |
|
Scotland |
Ireland |
Norway |
|
Northern Ireland |
Australia |
Ireland |
Partner countries with largest decrease in value compared with previous year
|
Exports |
Imports |
|
|
England |
Germany |
Netherlands |
|
Wales |
France |
USA |
|
Scotland |
China |
Netherlands |
|
Northern Ireland |
Canada |
Netherlands |
Top traded commodities by UK country, year to December 2021
You can explore SITC values by UK region in the accompanying data tables.
Top exported commodities (SITC Divisions) by value
|
|
Commodity (SITC Division) |
Value (£ billion) |
Change in year (%) |
|
England |
Machinery & transport equipment |
93.1 |
5.9 |
|
Wales |
Machinery & transport equipment |
6.4 |
2.9 |
|
Scotland |
Mineral fuels, lubricants & related materials |
7.4 |
-10.0 |
|
Northern Ireland |
Machinery & transport equipment |
2.5 |
-4.9 |
Top imported commodities (SITC Divisions) by value
|
|
Commodity (SITC Division) |
Value (£ billion) |
Change in year (%) |
|
England |
Machinery & transport equipment |
125.4 |
3.5 |
|
Wales |
Machinery & transport equipment |
5.2 |
3.2 |
|
Scotland |
Machinery & transport equipment |
7.8 |
-1.4 |
|
Northern Ireland |
Machinery & transport equipment |
1.8 |
14.2 |
Full commentary
Download the commentary for more details and analysis of this data.
Datasets
Access quarterly data for combined EU and non-EU trade.
Earlier data
Find earlier regional trade statistics.
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