Technically named the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the UK shipped US$487.1 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2018. That dollar amount reflects a -4.7% slowdown since 2014 but a 10.2% expansion from one year earlier in 2017.
In addition, Britain furnished an estimated $376.2 billion worth of international services during 2018 encompassing about $372.7 billion from commercial services. The focus of this article is on exported goods.
Given United Kingdom’s population of 65.1 million people, its total $487.1 billion in 2018 exported products translates to roughly $7,500 for every resident in the western European economic powerhouse.
United Kingdom’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups categorize the highest dollar value in UK global shipments during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each export category represents in terms of overall exports from United Kingdom.
- Machinery including computers: US$72.3 billion (14.8% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $54.6 billion (11.2%)
- Gems, precious metals: $47.4 billion (9.7%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $43.7 billion (9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $30 billion (6.2%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $28.8 billion (5.9%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $19.1 billion (3.9%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $19 billion (3.9%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $12.3 billion (2.5%)
- Organic chemicals: $11.3 billion (2.3%)
United Kingdom’s top 10 exports accounted for more than two-thirds (69.5%) of the overall value of its global shipments.
Gems and precious metals was the fastest-growing export product among the UK’s top 10 categories, up 47.7% from 2017 to 2018 led by increased international sales of gold, silver and platinum.
In second place for improving export sales was the mineral fuels including oil category which gained 24.9% spearheaded by global sales of crude and refined petroleum oils.
UK exports of organic chemicals posted the third-fastest gain in value up 17.1%, trailed by a 10.5% increase for exported machinery including computers.
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, see the section Searchable List of UK’s Most Valuable Export Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Advantages
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$7.9 billion (Up by 33.3% since 2017)
- Gems, precious metals: $7.3 billion (Reversing a -$16.9 billion deficit)
- Collector items, art, antiques: $3.9 billion (Up by 5.1%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $2.2 billion (Up by 11.1%)
- Books, newspapers, pictures: $1.4 billion (Up by 4.2%)
- Other chemical goods: $881.7 million (Down by -29.4%)
- Tanning, dyes, paints, varnishes, ink: $793 million (Down by -7.8%)
- Iron, steel: $763 million (Down by -22.1%)
- Organic chemicals: $664 million (Up by 238%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $377.2 million (Up by 75.6%)
United Kingdom has highly positive net exports in the international trade of aircraft or spacecraft including related parts and accessories. In turn, these cashflows indicate United Kingdom’s strong competitive advantages under the aircraft and spacecraft product category.
Opportunities
Overall the United Kingdom incurred a -$182.6 billion trade deficit during 2018, down -8.4% from -$199.3 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.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: -US$34.7 billion (Up by 9.6% since 2017)
- Mineral fuels including oil: -$23.1 billion (Up by 39.1%)
- Vehicles: -$20.2 billion (Up by 1.9%)
- Machinery including computers: -$13.6 billion (Down by -6.4%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$9.1 billion (Up by 1.9%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$7.7 billion (Up by 1.3%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$7.4 billion (Up by 1.1%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$7.1 billion (Up by 3.3%)
- Wood: -$7 billion (Up by 9.7%)
- Articles of iron or steel: -$6.4 billion (Up by 76.1%)
Notably, the United Kingdom has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits caused by UK spending on imported mobile phones under the electrical machinery and equipment category.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate United Kingdom’s competitive disadvantages in the international electronics market, but also represent key opportunities for United Kingdom to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Companies
UK Export Companies
Here are UK export companies ranking among the largest international trade players for the United Kingdom:
- Anglo American PLC (diversified metals, mining)
- AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals)
- BP (oil, gas)
- British American Tobacco (tobacco)
- GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals)
- Johnson Matthey (chemicals)
- Mondi Group (paper, paper products)
- Rio Tinto Group (diversified metals, mining)
- SABMiller (beverages)
- Smith & Nephew (medical equipment, supplies)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are also examples of UK exporters:
- Allied Pickfords UK (forage products, corn, t-shirts)
- Cadbury UK (chocolate bars, other chocolate preparations)
- GKN Timet UK (titanium)
- Optivite International (formic acid, proprionic acid, animal feeds not for dog or cat)
- Rothenberger UK (pipe/bolt cutters, propylene, miscellaneous tubes/pipes/hoses)
Searchable List of UK’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the United Kingdom during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | UK's Export Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | $41,997,355,000 | +0.02% |
| 2 | Gold (unwrought) | $31,787,696,000 | +86.7% |
| 3 | Turbo-jets | $24,928,499,000 | +9.7% |
| 4 | Crude oil | $24,858,214,000 | +29.8% |
| 5 | Medication mixes in dosage | $18,884,328,000 | -7.8% |
| 6 | Aircraft parts | $16,663,365,000 | +3.0% |
| 7 | Processed petroleum oils | $13,685,869,000 | +19.4% |
| 8 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $8,773,413,000 | -9.9% |
| 9 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $7,951,130,000 | +9.2% |
| 10 | Automobile parts/accessories | $7,083,950,000 | +7.2% |
| 11 | Platinum (unwrought) | $6,069,819,000 | +8.1% |
| 12 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $4,934,710,000 | -6.2% |
| 13 | Hand-drawn paintings, drawings | $4,708,175,000 | +8.2% |
| 14 | Engines (diesel) | $4,483,310,000 | +14.7% |
| 15 | Jewelry | $4,420,775,000 | -6.3% |
| 16 | Computers, optical readers | $4,324,579,000 | +10.2% |
| 17 | Petroleum gases | $3,756,095,000 | +2.3% |
| 18 | Iron or steel scrap | $3,153,603,000 | +10.2% |
| 19 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $3,071,421,000 | +5.2% |
| 20 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $2,998,269,000 | -0.2% |
| 21 | Printed books, brochures | $2,671,204,000 | +6.9% |
| 22 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $2,477,305,000 | +17.3% |
| 23 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $2,472,665,000 | +9.4% |
| 24 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $2,377,859,000 | -3.8% |
| 25 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $2,331,929,000 | -46.3% |
| 26 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $2,322,446,000 | +9.8% |
| 27 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $2,207,522,000 | +4.8% |
| 28 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $2,151,354,000 | +8.2% |
| 29 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $2,135,006,000 | +4.5% |
| 30 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $2,063,237,000 | -7.4% |
| 31 | Trucks | $2,026,548,000 | +23.1% |
| 32 | Printing machinery | $1,968,062,000 | +13.5% |
| 33 | Piston engine parts | $1,902,585,000 | +6.8% |
| 34 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $1,869,642,000 | +4.5% |
| 35 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $1,795,488,000 | -6.9% |
| 36 | Piston engines | $1,788,270,000 | -0.4% |
| 37 | Tractors | $1,773,251,000 | +10.5% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous machinery | $1,736,837,000 | +9.9% |
| 39 | Other food preparations | $1,705,924,000 | +5.7% |
| 40 | Insulated wire/cable | $1,695,017,000 | +6.5% |
| 41 | Other measuring/testing machines | $1,676,888,000 | +0.9% |
| 42 | Orthopedic appliances | $1,665,187,000 | +26.9% |
| 43 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $1,636,754,000 | +23.8% |
| 44 | Unrecorded sound media | $1,618,686,000 | -9.9% |
| 45 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $1,597,537,000 | +3.6% |
| 46 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $1,577,494,000 | +0.9% |
| 47 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1,577,060,000 | +8.2% |
| 48 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1,574,607,000 | +3.4% |
| 49 | Air or vacuum pumps | $1,560,131,000 | +17.1% |
| 50 | Computer parts, accessories | $1,499,101,000 | +1.6% |
| 51 | Machinery parts | $1,469,060,000 | +0.3% |
| 52 | Silver (unwrought) | $1,449,149,000 | +80.4% |
| 53 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1,416,671,000 | +13.2% |
| 54 | Electrical machinery | $1,362,862,000 | +11.2% |
| 55 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $1,354,789,000 | +0.7% |
| 56 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $1,354,320,000 | +29.1% |
| 57 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $1,349,559,000 | +21.1% |
| 58 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $1,346,353,000 | +5.2% |
| 59 | Electrical converters/power units | $1,344,499,000 | +4.5% |
| 60 | Regulate/control instruments | $1,331,728,000 | -6.1% |
| 61 | Fork-lift trucks | $1,306,225,000 | +23.3% |
| 62 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $1,299,979,000 | +9.1% |
| 63 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $1,291,680,000 | +2.2% |
| 64 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $1,289,583,000 | +13.6% |
| 65 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $1,269,740,000 | -16.9% |
| 66 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $1,244,777,000 | +23.9% |
| 67 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $1,230,622,000 | +4.6% |
| 68 | Footwear (leather) | $1,185,694,000 | +2.0% |
| 69 | X-ray equipment | $1,160,220,000 | +5.0% |
| 70 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $1,118,596,000 | +37.2% |
| 71 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $1,117,504,000 | +2.5% |
| 72 | Electric generating sets, converters | $1,070,025,000 | -0.3% |
| 73 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1,049,732,000 | +8.8% |
| 74 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $1,019,932,000 | -3.5% |
| 75 | Sculptures, statues | $1,018,758,000 | +17.8% |
| 76 | Copper waste, scrap | $1,011,584,000 | 0.0% |
| 77 | Print/write/draw inks | $1,008,949,000 | -7.6% |
| 78 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $1,001,959,000 | +11.5% |
| 79 | Personal toilet/shaving preparations, deodorants | $988,977,000 | +11.1% |
| 80 | Packaged dressings | 984367000 | +5.8% |
| 81 | Antiques (over 100 years old) | $982,359,000 | +18.5% |
| 82 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $965,284,000 | +10.3% |
| 83 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $964,141,000 | +11.9% |
| 84 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $963,656,000 | +7.6% |
| 85 | Whole fish (fresh) | $957,604,000 | -9.2% |
| 86 | Electric motors, generators | $946,844,000 | +3.0% |
| 87 | Navigational aids including compasses | $939,339,000 | +5.6% |
| 88 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $935,443,000 | +12.8% |
| 89 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $929,941,000 | +184.4% |
| 90 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $923,242,000 | +14.3% |
| 91 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $916,985,000 | +10.1% |
| 92 | Cheese, curd | $901,537,000 | +13.7% |
| 93 | Temperature-change machines | $898,426,000 | +12.7% |
| 94 | Miscellaneous heterocyclics | $867,843,000 | -10.9% |
| 95 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $866,893,000 | +6.2% |
| 96 | Lifting/loading machinery | $864,665,000 | +17.7% |
| 97 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $863,573,000 | +5.8% |
| 98 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $860,026,000 | +8.4% |
| 99 | Medication mixes not in dosage | $832,220,000 | +27.9% |
| 100 | Ethylene polymers | $828,992,000 | +5.8% |
| 101 | Wine | $823,525,000 | +13.9% |
| 102 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $821,505,000 | +9.2% |
| 103 | Hormones, miscellaneous steroids | $813,615,000 | +104.4% |
| 104 | Rubber tires (new) | $806,073,000 | +0.0% |
| 105 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $795,792,000 | +27.3% |
| 106 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $783,479,000 | -1.0% |
| 107 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $772,661,000 | +2.6% |
| 108 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $767,852,000 | +24.9% |
| 109 | Paper/paperboard waste, scrap | $761,837,000 | -8.9% |
| 110 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $753,847,000 | +5.2% |
| 111 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $748,593,000 | +13.2% |
| 112 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $742,513,000 | +15.1% |
| 113 | Table games, bowling equipment | $729,254,000 | +17.5% |
| 114 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $725,936,000 | +1.3% |
| 115 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $721,294,000 | +4.2% |
| 116 | Sports equipment | $702,983,000 | +14.3% |
| 117 | Footwear (textile) | $694,113,000 | +30.5% |
| 118 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $687,008,000 | +135.4% |
| 119 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $667,793,000 | +17.7% |
| 120 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $667,377,000 | +7.5% |
| 121 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $666,335,000 | -19.1% |
| 122 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $656,379,000 | -4.6% |
| 123 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $654,147,000 | +5.7% |
| 124 | Malt beer | $652,964,000 | -3.6% |
| 125 | Roasted cereal prepared foods | $646,750,000 | +3.9% |
| 126 | Cereals-based prepared foods | $642,841,000 | +16.3% |
| 127 | Stainless steel ingots | $642,015,000 | +23.1% |
| 128 | Wrist/pocket watches (precious metal case) | $637,828,000 | -10.7% |
| 129 | Electric storage batteries | $633,906,000 | +14.8% |
| 130 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $631,735,000 | +10.1% |
| 131 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $631,648,000 | +8.9% |
| 132 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $615,231,000 | +41.4% |
| 133 | Air conditioners | $612,488,000 | +11.1% |
| 134 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $596,755,000 | +7.6% |
| 135 | Ball, roller bearings | $595,412,000 | +8.3% |
| 136 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $590,827,000 | -11.4% |
| 137 | Vulcanized rubber items | $586,702,000 | +4.9% |
| 138 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $586,698,000 | +10.0% |
| 139 | Hair preparations | $586,465,000 | +6.2% |
| 140 | Silicones | $584,476,000 | +23.6% |
| 141 | Trailers | $573,405,000 | +8.9% |
| 142 | Acrylic polymers | $564,144,000 | +8.3% |
| 143 | Radar, radio communication items | $563,739,000 | +6.0% |
| 144 | Survey/hydro/weather instruments | $552,683,000 | +2.5% |
| 145 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $550,781,000 | +17.8% |
| 146 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $547,261,000 | +1.8% |
| 147 | Precious metal compounds | $544,922,000 | +29.2% |
| 148 | Worn clothing | $541,412,000 | +6.4% |
| 149 | Glass fibers | $540,431,000 | +4.1% |
| 150 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $535,110,000 | +5.1% |
| 151 | Sulphonamides | $535,035,000 | +211.2% |
| 152 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $530,443,000 | -5.9% |
| 153 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $529,837,000 | +0.4% |
| 154 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $526,402,000 | +2.8% |
| 155 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $524,009,000 | -0.6% |
| 156 | Organic surface-active goods, soap | $512,321,000 | +2.4% |
| 157 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $508,507,000 | +3.3% |
| 158 | Titanium | $502,942,000 | -2.7% |
| 159 | Fresh or chilled beef | $489,177,000 | +11.0% |
| 160 | Sheep or goat meat | $487,127,000 | -2.0% |
| 161 | Miscellaneous machine electrical parts | $483,724,000 | -5.1% |
| 162 | Sauces, mixed condiments, seasonings | $472,508,000 | +10.4% |
| 163 | Items of stone, other mineral substances | $472,020,000 | +1.6% |
| 164 | Articles of stone, other mineral substances | $470,174,000 | +5.0% |
| 165 | Sauces, mixed condiments, seasonings | $468,264,000 | -1.3% |
| 166 | Not concentrated/unsweetened milk, cream | $460,312,000 | +10.6% |
| 167 | Cellulose fiber paper | $459,203,000 | +0.8% |
| 168 | Live horses, mules | $454,927,000 | -6.2% |
| 169 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $453,226,000 | +3.4% |
| 170 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $452,619,000 | -8.5% |
| 171 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $451,519,000 | +30.5% |
| 172 | Live horses, mules | $450,354,000 | +9.1% |
| 173 | Gaskets, metal sheeting joints | $448,249,000 | +4.2% |
| 174 | Coiled iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $442,743,000 | +35.5% |
| 175 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $433,987,000 | +12.1% |
| 176 | Lead (unwrought) | $431,794,000 | -3.7% |
| 177 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $428,544,000 | -4.2% |
| 178 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $423,756,000 | +28.6% |
| 179 | Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates | $421,657,000 | +17.9% |
| 180 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $408,172,000 | +5.9% |
| 181 | Newspapers, journals | $401,887,000 | +4.4% |
| 182 | Poultry meat | $400,285,000 | +10.6% |
| 183 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $394,018,000 | +25.4% |
| 184 | Women's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $393,703,000 | +1.5% |
| 185 | Swine meat | $389,415,000 | +2.9% |
| 186 | Amine-function compounds | $388,609,000 | +19.7% |
| 187 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $374,785,000 | -0.2% |
| 188 | Other machine parts, accessories | $374,711,000 | +12.8% |
| 189 | Butter/ghee/other milk fats, oils | $370,775,000 | +20.7% |
| 190 | Mechano-therapy appliances | $367,114,000 | +14.7% |
| 191 | Butter/ghee/other milk fats, oils | $366,472,000 | +27.2% |
| 192 | Miscellaneous printed matter, photos | $366,413,000 | -0.1% |
| 193 | Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry | $360,526,000 | +17.0% |
| 194 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $355,492,000 | -1.6% |
| 195 | Coffee | $353,768,000 | -1.8% |
| 196 | Miscellaneous printed matter | $348,004,000 | -0.4% |
| 197 | Men's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $341,865,000 | +16.1% |
| 198 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $336,015,000 | +1.2% |
| 199 | Hydrocarbon derivatives | $335,853,000 | +22.4% |
| 200 | Iron ferroalloys | $335,667,000 | +31.4% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$405.1 billion or 83.2% by value for all products exported from the UK during 2018.
The latest available country-specific data shows that 67.6% of products exported from the UK were bought by importers in: United States (13.4% of the global total), Germany (9.6%), Netherlands (6.8%), France (6.5%), Ireland (5.8%), China (5.7%), Switzerland (5.3%), Belgium (3.9%), Italy (2.9%), Spain (2.9%), Turkey (2.8%) and Hong Kong (2.1%).
From a continental perspective, about 55% of UK exports by value in 2018 were delivered to fellow European trade partners (that percentage compares with 46.6% going to European Union members). Another 24.1% was sold to Asian importers while the United Kingdom shipped 15.3% worth to North America. Smaller percentages went to Africa (2.3%), Oceania (1.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand then Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
In macroeconomic terms, the United Kingdom’s total exported goods represent 16% of its overall Gross Domestic Product for 2018 ($3.038 trillion valued in Purchasing Power Parity US dollars). That 16% for exports to overall GDP per PPP in 2018 compares to 18.4% for 2014, seeming to indicate a relatively decreasing reliance on products sold on international markets for the UK’s total economic performance. And while this article focuses on exported goods, it is interesting to note that Britain also provided $376.2 billion worth of exports-related services to global customers for an additional 12.4% of GDP in PPP.
Another key indicator of a geographical entity’s economic performance is its unemployment rate. Britain’s unemployment rate was 3.8% as of October 2019 down from 4.2% on July 2018, according to Trading Economics.
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 United Kingdom’s Exported Services
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on January 17, 2020
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on January 17, 2020
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on January 17, 2020
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on January 17, 2020
Richest Country Reports, Key Statistics Powering Global Wealth. Accessed on December 21, 2019
Wikipedia, Gross domestic product. Accessed on January 17, 2020
Wikipedia, List of Companies based in London. Accessed on January 17, 2020
Wikipedia, Purchasing power parity. Accessed on January 17, 2020
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on January 17, 2020