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Based on estimates from the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, United Kingdom’s exported goods plus services represent 30.2% of total UK economic output or Gross Domestic Product. The analysis below focuses on exported products only.
From a continental perspective, 54.2% of UK exports by value were delivered to other European trade partners with 46.6% going to European Union members. Another 23.1% was sold to Asian importers while the United Kingdom shipped 15.2% worth to North America. Smaller percentages arrived in Africa (2.3%), Oceania (1.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand then Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Given United Kingdom’s population of 65.1 million people, its total $484 billion in 2018 exports translates to roughly 7,400 for every resident in the western European country.
The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate was 4% as of December 2018. That UK jobless rate is the lowest level since the 1970s according to Trading Economics.
United Kingdom’s Top 10 Exports
Top 10
The following export product groups represent 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$72.5 billion (15% of total exports)
- Vehicles: $55.4 billion (11.4%)
- Gems, precious metals: $47.5 billion (9.8%)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $45.1 billion (9.3%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $30.1 billion (6.2%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $29.4 billion (6.1%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $19.7 billion (4.1%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $19.2 billion (4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $12.8 billion (2.6%)
- Organic chemicals: $12.4 billion (2.6%)
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.
United Kingdom’s top 10 exports accounted for more than two-thirds (71.1%) 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 48% 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 28.7% spearheaded by global sales of crude and refined petroleum oils.
UK exports of organic chemicals posted the third-fastest gain in value up 28%, trailed by a 10.8% increase for exported machinery including computers.
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$8.2 billion (Up by 38.7% since 2017)
- Gems, precious metals: $7.2 billion (Reversing a -$16.9 billion deficit)
- Collector items, art, antiques: $3.9 billion (Up by 5.5%)
- Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $2 billion (Down by -0.02%)
- Books, newspapers, pictures: $1.4 billion (Up by 5.6%)
- Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion (Up by 534.4%)
- Other chemical goods: $963 million (Down by -22.9%)
- Tanning, dyes, paints, varnishes, ink: $797.2 million (Down by -7.4%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $463.9 million (Up by 115.9%)
- Arms, ammunition: $265.5 million (Up by 688.8%)
United Kingdom has highly positive net exports in the international trade of aircraft or spacecraft 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 -$189.1 billion trade deficit during 2018, down -5.1% from -$199.3 billion in red ink in 2017.
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$39.6 billion (Up by 25.2% since 2017)
- Mineral fuels including oil: -$21.8 billion (Up by 31.4%)
- Vehicles: -$19.7 billion (Down by -0.6%)
- Machinery including computers: -$14.5 billion (Down by -0.2%)
- Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefab buildings: -$7.7 billion (Up by 1.2%)
- Knit or crochet clothing, accessories: -$7.7 billion (Down by -14%)
- Wood: -$7 billion (Up by 9.8%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: -$6.7 billion (Down by -2.3%)
- Clothing, accessories (not knit or crochet): -$6.5 billion (Down by -10%)
- Articles of iron or steel: -$6.4 billion (Up by 76.4%)
United Kingdom has highly negative net exports and therefore deep international trade deficits notably for mobile phones under the electrical machinery and equipment category.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate United Kingdom’s competitive disadvantages in the international electronics market, but also represent key opportunities for United Kingdom to improve its position in the global economy through focused innovations.
Companies
UK Export Companies
Here are UK export companies ranking among the largest international trade players for the United Kingdom:
- Anglo American PLC (diversified metals, mining)
- AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals)
- BP (oil, gas)
- British American Tobacco (tobacco)
- GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals)
- Johnson Matthey (chemicals)
- Mondi Group (paper, paper products)
- Rio Tinto Group (diversified metals, mining)
- SABMiller (beverages)
- Smith & Nephew (medical equipment, supplies)
According to global trade intelligence firm Zepol, the following companies are also examples of UK exporters:
- Allied Pickfords UK (forage products, corn, t-shirts)
- Cadbury UK (chocolate bars, other chocolate preparations)
- GKN Timet UK (titanium)
- Optivite International (formic acid, proprionic acid, animal feeds not for dog or cat)
- Rothenberger UK (pipe/bolt cutters, propylene, miscellaneous tubes/pipes/hoses)
Searchable List of UK’s Most Valuable Export Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, UK’s top export products are cars followed by gold then turbo-jets.
The following searchable table displays 200 of the most in-demand goods shipped from the United Kingdom during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total export value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | UK's Export Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cars | $42 billion | +0.1% |
| 2 | Gold (unwrought) | $31.6 billion | +85.9% |
| 3 | Turbo-jets | $24.9 billion | +9.5% |
| 4 | Crude oil | $24.8 billion | +29.7% |
| 5 | Medication mixes in dosage | $18.9 billion | -7.7% |
| 6 | Aircraft parts | $17 billion | +5.1% |
| 7 | Processed petroleum oils | $13.6 billion | +18.7% |
| 8 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $8.8 billion | -10.1% |
| 9 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $7.9 billion | +8.5% |
| 10 | Automobile parts/accessories | $7 billion | +5.5% |
| 11 | Platinum (unwrought) | $6.1 billion | +7.9% |
| 12 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $4.8 billion | -7.9% |
| 13 | Hand-drawn paintings, drawings | $4.7 billion | +8.4% |
| 14 | Engines (diesel) | $4.5 billion | +14.6% |
| 15 | Jewelry | $4.4 billion | -6.1% |
| 16 | Computers, optical readers | $4.2 billion | +7.7% |
| 17 | Petroleum gases | $3.7 billion | +1% |
| 18 | Iron or steel scrap | $3.2 billion | +10.2% |
| 19 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $3 billion | +4% |
| 20 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $2.9 billion | -2.1% |
| 21 | Printed books, brochures | $2.6 billion | +5.2% |
| 22 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $2.4 billion | +15.3% |
| 23 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $2.4 billion | +7.2% |
| 24 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $2.4 billion | -3.6% |
| 25 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $2.4 billion | -45.7% |
| 26 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $2.3 billion | +7.5% |
| 27 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $2.2 billion | +3.3% |
| 28 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $2.1 billion | +6.5% |
| 29 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $2.1 billion | +2.7% |
| 30 | Diamonds (unmounted/unset) | $2.1 billion | -7.4% |
| 31 | Trucks | $2 billion | +21.4% |
| 32 | Printing machinery | $1.9 billion | +11.4% |
| 33 | Piston engine parts | $1.9 billion | +5.5% |
| 34 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $1.8 billion | +3.1% |
| 35 | Piston engines | $1.8 billion | -0.6% |
| 36 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $1.8 billion | -8.5% |
| 37 | Tractors | $1.7 billion | +8.8% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous machinery | $1.7 billion | +6.9% |
| 39 | Other food preparations | $1.7 billion | +3.7% |
| 40 | Insulated wire/cable | $1.7 billion | +3.9% |
| 41 | Other measuring/testing machines | $1.7 billion | -0.6% |
| 42 | Orthopedic appliances | $1.6 billion | +24.8% |
| 43 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $1.6 billion | +23.2% |
| 44 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $1.6 billion | +6.2% |
| 45 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $1.6 billion | +2.8% |
| 46 | Unrecorded sound media | $1.6 billion | -12.4% |
| 47 | Women's clothing (not knit or crochet) | $1.5 billion | -1.3% |
| 48 | Air or vacuum pumps | $1.5 billion | +14.3% |
| 49 | Computer parts, accessories | $1.5 billion | +0.3% |
| 50 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $1.5 billion | +1.1% |
| 51 | Silver (unwrought) | $1.5 billion | +83.1% |
| 52 | Machinery parts | $1.4 billion | -2.7% |
| 53 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $1.4 billion | +9.8% |
| 54 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $1.3 billion | +4.7% |
| 55 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $1.3 billion | +19.5% |
| 56 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $1.3 billion | +26.8% |
| 57 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $1.3 billion | -1.4% |
| 58 | Electrical machinery | $1.3 billion | +8.2% |
| 59 | Regulate/control instruments | $1.3 billion | -7.4% |
| 60 | Electrical converters/power units | $1.3 billion | +1.9% |
| 61 | Optical fiber cables, sheets, plates | $1.3 billion | +7.5% |
| 62 | Fork-lift trucks | $1.3 billion | +21% |
| 63 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $1.3 billion | +11.9% |
| 64 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $1.3 billion | +0.5% |
| 65 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $1.2 billion | -18.5% |
| 66 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $1.2 billion | +21.5% |
| 67 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $1.2 billion | +1.5% |
| 68 | Footwear (leather) | $1.2 billion | +0.1% |
| 69 | X-ray equipment | $1.2 billion | +4.2% |
| 70 | Yachts, other pleasure/sports vessels | $1.1 billion | +34.6% |
| 71 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $1.1 billion | -1.6% |
| 72 | Electric generating sets, converters | $1.1 billion | -0.9% |
| 73 | Precious metal waste, scrap | $1 billion | -3.8% |
| 74 | Sculptures, statues | $1 billion | +16.7% |
| 75 | Copper waste, scrap | $1 billion | -0.4% |
| 76 | Miscellaneous furniture | $1 billion | +4% |
| 77 | Print/write/draw inks | $997.2 million | -8.7% |
| 78 | Antiques (over 100 years old) | $992.7 million | +19.7% |
| 79 | Personal toilet/shaving preparations, deodorants | $976.8 million | +9.7% |
| 80 | Packaged dressings | $976.3 million | +4.9% |
| 81 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $962.2 million | +7.1% |
| 82 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $955.6 million | +10.9% |
| 83 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $948.5 million | +5.9% |
| 84 | Jerseys, pullovers (knit or crochet) | $942 million | +7.7% |
| 85 | Whole fish (fresh) | $941.6 million | -10.7% |
| 86 | Radar, radio communication items | $941.5 million | +77% |
| 87 | Electric motors, generators | $935.1 million | +1.7% |
| 88 | Navigational aids including compasses | $931 million | +4.7% |
| 89 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $921.3 million | +11.1% |
| 90 | Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation) | $915.2 million | +179.9% |
| 91 | Cheese, curd | $886.8 million | +11.9% |
| 92 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $886.8 million | +9.8% |
| 93 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $875.5 million | +5.1% |
| 94 | Temperature-change machines | $874.2 million | +9.7% |
| 95 | Miscellaneous heterocyclics | $869.5 million | -10.7% |
| 96 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $859.9 million | +8.3% |
| 97 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $848.3 million | +3.9% |
| 98 | Medication mixes not in dosage | $846.1 million | +30.1% |
| 99 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $844.7 million | +3.5% |
| 100 | Lifting/loading machinery | $840.8 million | +14.4% |
| 101 | Ethylene polymers | $824.4 million | +5.2% |
| 102 | Hormones, miscellaneous steroids | $812.6 million | +104.1% |
| 103 | Wine | $809.9 million | +12% |
| 104 | T-shirts, vests (knit or crochet) | $805.4 million | +7% |
| 105 | Bombs, grenades, ammunition | $798.1 million | +351.1% |
| 106 | Rubber tires (new) | $790.6 million | -1.9% |
| 107 | Miscellaneous engines, motors | $780.4 million | +24.9% |
| 108 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $770.9 million | +2.3% |
| 109 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $768.9 million | -2.9% |
| 110 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $766.2 million | +24.6% |
| 111 | Paper/paperboard waste, scrap | $750.1 million | -10.3% |
| 112 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $738.6 million | +14.5% |
| 113 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $719.7 million | +0.5% |
| 114 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $718.3 million | +8.6% |
| 115 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $711.9 million | -0.7% |
| 116 | Table games, bowling equipment | $707.9 million | +14% |
| 117 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $702.3 million | +1.5% |
| 118 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $697.8 million | +139.1% |
| 119 | Footwear (textile) | $680 million | +27.8% |
| 120 | Sports equipment | $669.8 million | +8.9% |
| 121 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $667.9 million | +7.6% |
| 122 | Aluminum waste, scrap | $665.5 million | +17.3% |
| 123 | Perfumes, toilet waters | $657.3 million | -20.2% |
| 124 | Men's suits, trousers (not knit or crochet) | $643.5 million | -6.5% |
| 125 | Malt beer | $639.7 million | -5.5% |
| 126 | Roasted cereal prepared foods | $638.3 million | +15.5% |
| 127 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $637.1 million | +2.9% |
| 128 | Stainless steel ingots | $635.8 million | +21.9% |
| 129 | Wrist/pocket watches (precious metal case) | $631.5 million | -11.6% |
| 130 | Liquid crystal/laser/optical tools | $627.6 million | -5.9% |
| 131 | Electric storage batteries | $623.2 million | +12.9% |
| 132 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $622.4 million | +8.5% |
| 133 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $620.1 million | -0.4% |
| 134 | Women's clothing (knit or crochet) | $618.3 million | +6.6% |
| 135 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $608.8 million | +39.9% |
| 136 | Air conditioners | $600.2 million | +8.9% |
| 137 | Ball, roller bearings | $581.5 million | +5.8% |
| 138 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $581.5 million | +4.9% |
| 139 | Silicones | $579.7 million | +22.6% |
| 140 | Acrylic polymers | $572.9 million | +10% |
| 141 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $570.2 million | +6.9% |
| 142 | Hair preparations | $567.4 million | +2.7% |
| 143 | Vulcanized rubber items | $562.7 million | +0.6% |
| 144 | Trailers | $544.4 million | +3.4% |
| 145 | Precious metal compounds | $542.6 million | +28.6% |
| 146 | Survey/hydro/weather instruments | $540.7 million | +0.3% |
| 147 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $538.1 million | +15.1% |
| 148 | Glass fibers | $532.9 million | +2.6% |
| 149 | Sulphonamides | $530.3 million | +208.4% |
| 150 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $526.8 million | -2% |
| 151 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $524 million | -7% |
| 152 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $518.3 million | -1.7% |
| 153 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $512.6 million | -2.8% |
| 154 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $510.2 million | +0.2% |
| 155 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $507.8 million | -0.8% |
| 156 | Worn clothing | $506.5 million | -0.4% |
| 157 | Organic surface-active goods, soap | $501.6 million | +0.3% |
| 158 | Titanium | $500.4 million | -3.2% |
| 159 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $498.6 million | +1.3% |
| 160 | Fresh or chilled beef | $486.9 million | +10.5% |
| 161 | Miscellaneous machine electrical parts | $483.9 million | -5.1% |
| 162 | Sheep or goat meat | $483.5 million | -2.8% |
| 163 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $469.9 million | +1.1% |
| 164 | Items of stone, other mineral substances | $463.2 million | +3.5% |
| 165 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $463.2 million | -2.4% |
| 166 | Sauces, mixed condiments, seasonings | $463.1 million | +8.2% |
| 167 | Not concentrated/unsweetened milk, cream | $456.8 million | +9.7% |
| 168 | Cellulose fiber paper | $450.8 million | -1% |
| 169 | Nickel (unwrought) | $449 million | +4.4% |
| 170 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $448.8 million | -9.3% |
| 171 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $447.7 million | +29.4% |
| 172 | Radioactive chemical elements | $446.8 million | +274.9% |
| 173 | Live horses, mules | $445.5 million | -8.1% |
| 174 | Gaskets, metal sheeting joints | $444.3 million | +7.7% |
| 175 | Coiled iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $441.9 million | +35.2% |
| 176 | Lead (unwrought) | $433.4 million | -3.4% |
| 177 | Crustaceans (including lobsters) | $425.7 million | -2.9% |
| 178 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $423 million | +28.4% |
| 179 | Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates | $419.1 million | +17.2% |
| 180 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $412.7 million | +6.6% |
| 181 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $401.2 million | -10.3% |
| 182 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $401.1 million | +4.1% |
| 183 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $392.4 million | +24.9% |
| 184 | Newspapers, journals | $388.7 million | +0.9% |
| 185 | Poultry meat | $388.3 million | +7.3% |
| 186 | Amine-function compounds | $387.2 million | +19.3% |
| 187 | Women's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $386.4 million | -0.3% |
| 188 | Swine meat | $386.1 million | +2% |
| 189 | Nitrile-function compounds | $368.5 million | +19.9% |
| 190 | Butter/ghee/other milk fats, oils | $366.2 million | +27.2% |
| 191 | Other machine parts, accessories | $356.5 million | +7.3% |
| 192 | Mechano-therapy appliances | $355.3 million | +11% |
| 193 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $354.9 million | -1.8% |
| 194 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $349.4 million | -7% |
| 195 | Coffee | $347.3 million | -3.6% |
| 196 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $345.1 million | -1.2% |
| 197 | Miscellaneous printed matter | $344.3 million | -6.1% |
| 198 | Iron ferroalloys | $335.9 million | +31.5% |
| 199 | Men's coats, jackets (not knit or crochet) | $331.5 million | +12.6% |
| 200 | Oral/dental hygiene preparations | $331.3 million | -4% |
These 200 exported goods were worth a subtotal of US$399.5 billion or 82.6% by value for all products exported from the UK during 2018.
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:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on February 19, 2019
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on February 19, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on February 19, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 19, 2019
Wikipedia, List of Companies based in London. Accessed on February 19, 2019
Zepol’s company summary highlights by country. Accessed on February 19, 2019
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