That dollar total reflects an 18.6% increase from $468.5 billion five years earlier for 2021.
Year over year, UK export sales grew by 8.4% compared to $512.9 billion in 2024.
Based on its average exchange rate for 2025, the British pound appreciated by 3.1% against the US dollar from 2024 to 2025. The UK’s stronger local currency since 2024 makes British exports paid for in comparatively weaker US dollars relatively more expensive for international buyers starting with American currency.
Britain’s biggest export products by value include unwrought gold, turbo-jets, cars, medication mixes in dosage, and crude oil. In aggregate, those major exports generated over a third (35.9%) of overall exports sales from the United Kingdom for 2024. The UK’s top commodities showcase a diversified range of exported goods.
The United Kingdom ranks among world-leading nations for exporting aircraft parts, platinum and gold.
UK’s Most Valuable Trading Partners
The latest available country-specific data shows that 65.5% of products exported from the UK was bought by importers in: United States of America (15.6% of the UK total), Germany (7.7%), mainland China (6.6%), Netherlands (5.9%), Ireland (5.49%), Switzerland (also 5.49%), France (5.4%), Belgium (3.6%), Hong Kong (3.1%), Spain (2.5%), Italy (2.02%) and Poland (2.01%).
From a continental perspective, 49.1% of United Kingdom’s exports by value was delivered to European countries while 27.5% was sold to importers in Asia. The United Kingdom shipped another 18.2% worth of goods to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Africa (2.3%), Latin America (1.7%) including the Caribbean but excluding Mexico, then Oceania (1.2%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
No longer a member of the European Union, nevertheless the UK collected 41.7% of its global revenues from exports that Britain sold to the existing 27 members of the EU in 2025. That percentage shows a drop from 43.1% for 2024.
Given United Kingdom’s population of 69.9 million people, its total US$555.9 billion in 2025 exported products translates to roughly $7,950 for every resident in the western European economic powerhouse. That percentage exceeds the average $7,500 per person one year earlier.
United Kingdom’s Top 10 Exports
The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in UK global shipments during 2025. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from Great Britain.
- Machinery including computers: US$106.9 billion (19.2% of total exports)
- Gems, precious metals: $106.8 billion (19.2%)
- Vehicles: $41.1 billion (7.4%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $36.5 billion (6.6%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $32.7 billion (5.9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $27.6 billion (5%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $22.3 billion (4%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $16.8 billion (3%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $11.9 billion (2.1%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $11 billion (2%)
The United Kingdom’s top 10 export product categories approached three-quarters (74.5%) of the overall value of global UK shipments.
Gems and precious metals represent the fastest grower among the top 10 export categories, up by 30.1% since 2024. Gold and jewelry were big winners under this product category.
In second place for improving export sales was machinery including computers which was up by 25%.
The UK’s shipments of electrical machinery and equipment posted the third-fastest gain in value, up by 8.3% year over year.
The leading decliner among the UK’s top 10 export categories was the vehicles grouping, which fell -14.9%
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, peruse the section below.
Searchable List of UK’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the following searchable table displays 100 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the United Kingdom. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease year over year.
| Rank | UK Export Product | Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold (unwrought) | $81,349,732,000 | +23.4% |
| 2 | Turbo-jets | $53,085,435,000 | +51.4% |
| 3 | Cars | $30,454,217,000 | -15.1% |
| 4 | Medication mixes in dosage | $18,352,169,000 | -4.2% |
| 5 | Crude oil | $16,471,523,000 | +2.9% |
| 6 | Aircraft or spacecraft parts | $14,914,199,000 | +7.3% |
| 7 | Processed petroleum oils | $10,877,955,000 | +0.02% |
| 8 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $8,783,134,000 | +4.1% |
| 9 | Platinum (unwrought) | $8,753,981,000 | +57% |
| 10 | Silver (unwrought) | $7,970,572,000 | +119.7% |
| 11 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $7,782,584,000 | +9% |
| 12 | Phone devices including smartphones | $6,370,452,000 | +14.8% |
| 13 | Petroleum gases | $6,030,249,000 | +24.7% |
| 14 | Computers, optical readers | $5,779,416,000 | +34.8% |
| 15 | Automobile parts/accessories | $4,775,037,000 | -12.2% |
| 16 | Engines (diesel) | $4,672,312,000 | +13.1% |
| 17 | Jewelry | $4,048,343,000 | +27% |
| 18 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $3,974,032,000 | +1.3% |
| 19 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $3,304,517,000 | -0.8% |
| 20 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $3,150,065,000 | +29% |
| 21 | Iron or steel scrap | $2,935,074,000 | -11.4% |
| 22 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $2,893,977,000 | +38.1% |
| 23 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $2,828,638,000 | -10.3% |
| 24 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $2,753,217,000 | +2.5% |
| 25 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $2,698,349,000 | +3.8% |
| 26 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $2,421,603,000 | +6.4% |
| 27 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $2,379,051,000 | +13.2% |
| 28 | Trucks | $2,365,785,000 | -29.2% |
| 29 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $2,316,001,000 | -4.8% |
| 30 | Electrical machinery | $2,312,159,000 | +5.7% |
| 31 | Other measuring/testing machines | $2,303,051,000 | +8.1% |
| 32 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $2,297,329,000 | +11.6% |
| 33 | Orthopedic appliances | $2,260,090,000 | -3.3% |
| 34 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $2,206,278,000 | +2.8% |
| 35 | Miscellaneous machinery | $2,152,093,000 | +2.4% |
| 36 | Air or vacuum pumps | $2,146,553,000 | +4.2% |
| 37 | Insulated wire/cable | $1,969,221,000 | +11.8% |
| 38 | Other food preparations | $1,966,248,000 | +3.3% |
| 39 | Hand-drawn paintings, drawings | $1,896,677,000 | -26.1% |
| 40 | Copper waste, scrap | $1,879,306,000 | +10.1% |
| 41 | Printed books, brochures | $1,863,611,000 | -2.5% |
| 42 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $1,841,872,000 | +15.2% |
| 43 | Piston engines | $1,840,145,000 | +9.8% |
| 44 | Fork-lift trucks | $1,822,871,000 | -20% |
| 45 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1,809,309,000 | +7.3% |
| 46 | Bombs, grenades, ammunition | $1,793,493,000 | +41.5% |
| 47 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $1,704,720,000 | +14.4% |
| 48 | Electrical converters/power units | $1,686,386,000 | +6% |
| 49 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1,598,800,000 | +1.5% |
| 50 | Temperature-change machines | $1,566,716,000 | +17.5% |
| 51 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $1,566,140,000 | -0.5% |
| 52 | Tractors | $1,543,137,000 | -2.6% |
| 53 | Piston engine parts | $1,542,200,000 | -0.3% |
| 54 | Radar, radio communication items | $1,499,877,000 | +16.4% |
| 55 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $1,482,323,000 | +6.5% |
| 56 | Machinery parts | $1,465,752,000 | -4.1% |
| 57 | Electrical energy | $1,462,588,000 | +102.9% |
| 58 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $1,452,996,000 | +1.2% |
| 59 | Precious metal compounds | $1,448,652,000 | +26.4% |
| 60 | Navigational aids, compasses | $1,445,101,000 | +18.8% |
| 61 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $1,425,721,000 | +3.5% |
| 62 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $1,413,867,000 | +9.1% |
| 63 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $1,379,280,000 | -5% |
| 64 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $1,349,878,000 | +12.9% |
| 65 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $1,335,908,000 | -0.5% |
| 66 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1,323,005,000 | -0.7% |
| 67 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1,316,651,000 | +2.5% |
| 68 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $1,315,769,000 | -16% |
| 69 | Cheese, curd | $1,280,008,000 | +12.8% |
| 70 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $1,274,003,000 | +11.5% |
| 71 | Electric motors, generators | $1,259,246,000 | +24.6% |
| 72 | Whole fish (fresh) | $1,256,689,000 | -3% |
| 73 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $1,253,557,000 | +17% |
| 74 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $1,236,115,000 | +4.3% |
| 75 | Printing machinery | $1,183,270,000 | -10.1% |
| 76 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $1,171,443,000 | +3.8% |
| 77 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $1,167,069,000 | -2.1% |
| 78 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $1,166,548,000 | +12.3% |
| 79 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $1,163,091,000 | +4.5% |
| 80 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $1,137,267,000 | -32.4% |
| 81 | Personal toilet/shaving preparations, deodorants | $1,120,672,000 | -0.2% |
| 82 | Computer parts, accessories | $1,118,844,000 | +49.2% |
| 83 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $1,058,021,000 | +6.6% |
| 84 | Titanium | $1,031,492,000 | +15% |
| 85 | X-ray equipment | $986,071,000 | -3.1% |
| 86 | Regulate/control instruments | $973,038,000 | +2% |
| 87 | Electric generating sets, converters | $967,541,000 | +7.6% |
| 88 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $933,051,000 | +0.7% |
| 89 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $929,167,000 | +12.4% |
| 90 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $917,467,000 | +14% |
| 91 | Lifting/loading machinery | $914,078,000 | +6.2% |
| 92 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $902,850,000 | +2.3% |
| 93 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $896,210,000 | +18% |
| 94 | Survey/hydro/weather instruments | $881,281,000 | +7% |
| 95 | Sheep or goat meat | $864,075,000 | +15.9% |
| 96 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $853,423,000 | +8.8% |
| 97 | Electric storage batteries | $848,678,000 | -5.5% |
| 98 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $810,560,000 | +2.4% |
| 99 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $798,252,000 | +18.5% |
| 100 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $795,097,000 | +6.1% |
These 100 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$420.4 billion or over three-quarters (75.6%) by value for all products exported from the UK during 2025.
Products Creating Trade Surpluses for Britain
The following types of UK product shipments represent positive net exports or a trade balance surplus. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports.
In a nutshell, net exports represent the amount by which foreign spending on a home country’s goods or services exceeds or lags the home country’s spending on foreign goods or services.
- Aircraft, spacecraft: US$3.3 billion (Up by 136.4% since 2024)
- Ships, boats: $1.3 billion (Up by 46.5%)
- Collector items, art, antiques: $1.2 billion (Down by -34.2%)
- Books, newspapers, pictures: $1.1 billion (Down by -25.4%)
- Arms, ammunition: $843.7 million (Up by 9.9%)
- Tanning, dyes, paints, varnishes, ink: $609.8 million (Down by -32%)
- Nickel: $499.9 million (Down by -6.6%)
- Copper: $422.9 million (Up by 86%)
- Other base metals: $294.1 million (Down by -9.2%)
- Other chemical goods: $169 million (Down by -70.4%)
The United Kingdom has highly positive net exports in the international trade of large capital expenditure items aircraft, spacecraft, ships and boats. In turn, these cashflows indicate United Kingdom’s strong competitive advantages under the related product categories.
Products Causing Trade Deficits for Britain
The United Kingdom incurred an overall -US$392.9 billion trade deficit during 2025. That dollar amount results from a 29.8% expansion from -$302.7 billion in red ink one year earlier.
Below are exports from United Kingdom that result in negative net exports or product trade balance deficits. These negative net exports reveal product categories where foreign spending on home country United Kingdom’s goods trail UK importer spending on foreign products.
- Gems, precious metals: -US$73.4 billion (Up by 589% since 2024)
- Vehicles: -$52.3 billion (Up by 29.1%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -$43.5 billion (Up by 3.6%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: -$38.9 billion (Down by -17.5%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$10.3 billion (Up by 11.9%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$9.3 billion (Up by 3%)
- Machinery including computers: -$8.9 billion (Down by -8.2%)
- Wood: -$8.6 billion (Up by 5.8%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$8.2 billion (Up by 1.6%)
- Fruits, nuts: -$8.1 billion (Up by 15%)
Notably, the United Kingdom has highly negative net exports under the gems and precious metals product category and therefore deep international trade deficits. One root cause for those product deficits was the UK’s increased spending on imported gold and, to a lesser degree, silver.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate United Kingdom’s competitive disadvantages in the international energy market, but also represent key opportunities for United Kingdom to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Major UK Export Companies
Here are UK export companies ranking among the largest international trade players for the United Kingdom.
- Anglo American PLC (diversified metals, mining)
- AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals)
- BP (oil, gas)
- British American Tobacco (tobacco)
- GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals)
- Johnson Matthey (chemicals)
- Mondi Group (paper, paper products)
- Rio Tinto Group (diversified metals, mining)
- SABMiller (beverages)
- Smith & Nephew (medical equipment, supplies)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are also examples of UK exporters.
- Allied Pickfords UK (forage products, corn, t-shirts)
- Cadbury UK (chocolate bars, other chocolate preparations)
- GKN Timet UK (titanium)
- Optivite International (formic acid, proprionic acid, animal feeds not for dog or cat)
- Rothenberger UK (pipe/bolt cutters, propylene, miscellaneous tubes/pipes/hoses)
In macroeconomic terms, the United Kingdom’s total exported goods represent 12.5% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2025 ($4.448 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 12.5% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2025 compares to 12% one year earlier. Those percentages suggest an increasing reliance on products sold on international markets for the UK’s total economic performance.
Another key indicator of a geographical entity’s economic health is its unemployment rate. Britain’s unemployment rate averaged 4.5% for 2025, up from an average 4.275% for 2024 according to International Monetary Fund metrics.
See also United Kingdom’s Top 10 Imports, United Kingdom’s Top Trading Partners, UK’s Major EU Exports, United Kingdom’s Top 10 Major Export Companies and World’s Top Food Exports Special Data Report
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 1, 2026
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 1, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 1, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 1, 2026
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on March 1, 2026
SHIPHUB, HS Code for Food. Accessed on March 1, 2026
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on March 1, 2026
Wikipedia, List of Companies based in London. Accessed on March 1, 2026
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on March 1, 2026
X-rates.com, Exchange Rates: British Pound to US Dollar (monthly average 2025). Accessed on March 1, 2026
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on March 1, 2026