The United Kingdom shipped US$526.3 billion worth of goods around the world in 2022.
That dollar amount results from a 7.2% increase from $490.8 billion for 2018 and an 11.8% uptick from $470.4 billion one year earlier in 2021.
More data on UK exports by country, the EU and continent are described below.
United Kingdom’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of United Kingdom’s top trading partners in terms of export sales. That is, these are countries that imported the most UK shipments by dollar value during 2022. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total UK exports.
- United States: US$63.4 billion (12% of total UK exports)
- Netherlands: $43 billion (8.2%)
- Germany: $41.2 billion (7.8%)
- Ireland: $36.1 billion (6.9%)
- Switzerland: $34.4 billion (6.5%)
- China: $34.4 billion (6.5%)
- France: $30.2 billion (5.7%)
- Hong Kong: $23.3 billion (4.4%)
- Belgium: $21.9 billion (4.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $12.1 billion (2.3%)
- Spain: $11.9 billion (2.3%)
- Italy: $11.3 billion (2.2%)
- India: $9.7 billion (1.8%)
- Turkey: $7.9 billion (1.5%)
- Singapore: $7.8 billion (1.5%)
- Canada: $7.6 billion (1.5%)
- Japan: $7.2 billion (1.4%)
- Poland: $7 billion (1.3%)
- Sweden: $6.7 billion (1.3%)
- South Korea: $6.1 billion (1.2%)
- Australia: $5.4 billion (1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $4.6 billion (0.9%)
- Norway: $4.2 billion (0.8%)
- Qatar: $4 billion (0.8%)
- Denmark: $3.5 billion (0.7%)
In 2022, well over four-fifths (84.6%) of overall UK exports were delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
Increased purchases from the United Kingdom at the fastest pace from were Hong Kong (up 136.8% from 2021), Qatar (up 73.6%), mainland China (up 64.6%), India (up 60.1%) then the United Arab Emirates (up 52.9%).
There were 5 decliners among the UK’s most valuable customers for its exported products. These were Switzerland (down -13.2% from 2021), Italy (down -6.8%), Australia (down -6.6%), South Korea (down -5.9%) and Japan (down -4.8%).
Top 5 Continents for Buying UK Exports
Applying a continental lens and based on 2021 data, exports by value from the United Kingdom were sold to importers located in the continent entities below.
- Europe: US$276 billion (54.3% of total UK exports)
- Asia: $134 billion (26.4%)
- North America: $72.7 billion (14.3%)
- Africa: $11.3 billion (2.2%)
- Latin America minus Mexico but including the Caribbean: $7.6 billion (1.5%)
- Oceania: $6.6 billion (1.3%)
UK Exports to EU Countries
By value, the United Kingdom’s exports to all 27 EU members in 2022 represents 44.1% of worldwide UK shipments during 2022. That percentage compares to 42.3% one year earlier in 2021.
Below are the top 10 EU customers for Britain’s exported goods during 2022.
- Netherlands: US$43 billion (8.2% of total UK exports)
- Germany: $41.2 billion (7.8%)
- Ireland: $36.1 billion (6.9%)
- France: $30.2 billion (5.7%)
- Belgium: $21.9 billion (4.2%)
- Spain: $10.6 billion (2.3%)
- Italy: $11.9 billion (2.2%)
- Poland: $7 billion (1.3%)
- Sweden: $6.7 billion (1.3%)
- Denmark: $3.5 billion (0.7%)
Expanding the focus to all 27 EU members, the fastest-growing customers for UK exports were Lithuania (up 96.6% from 2021), Finland (up 34.4%), Austria (up 29.5%), Poland (up 26.5%), Ireland (up 24%) and Bulgaria (up 20%).
The greatest reductions among all EU importers of goods from the UK belong to Latvia (down -30.2%), Hungary (down -9.6%), Slovenia (down -9.4%), Luxembourg (down -7%), Italy (down -6.8%) and Malta (down -6%).
UK’s Major Trade Deficits by Country
Overall, The United Kingdom incurred an overall -$288.8 billion trade deficit during 2022. That dollar amount represents a 32.7% expansion from -$217.6 billion in red ink one year earlier.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
United Kingdom incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- China: -US$67.7 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2022)
- Norway: -$49.1 billion
- United States: -$34 billion
- Germany: -$30 billion
- Italy: -$19.2 billion
- Spain: -$11.6 billion
- Poland: -$10.3 billion
- Canada: -$9.3 billion
- Turkey: -$8.1 billion
- Vietnam: -$8 billion
Among the United Kingdom’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, the UK’s deficits with Norway (up 54.6%), Vietnam (up 45%) and Italy (up 39.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
Furthermore, Britain went from a $200 million surplus trading with the United States of America in 2021 to the multi-billion dollar deficit listed above.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate United Kingdom’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for United Kingdom to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
UK’s Major Trade Surpluses by Country
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
United Kingdom earned the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- Hong Kong: US$20.8 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2022)
- Switzerland: $20.1 billion
- Ireland: $17.9 billion
- Netherlands: $13.9 billion
- United Arab Emirates: $8 billion
- Singapore: $5.4 billion
- Australia: $2.6 billion
- North Macedonia: $1.8 billion
- Belgium: $1.3 billion
- Saudi Arabia: $1.1 billion
Among United Kingdom’s trading partners that generated the greatest positive trade balances, the UK’s surpluses with Hong Kong (up 455.8%), Ireland (up 84.7%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 41.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2021 to 2022.
In addition, Britain reversed an -$11.1 billion deficit with Belgium in 2021 and -$4.6 billion in red ink with the Netherlands during 2021.
The positive cashflow streams for 2022 clearly indicate United Kingdom’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for United Kingdom to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing UK Trading Partners
Roughly 90 UK corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major companies headquartered in the UK that appear on the Forbes lists.
- Anglo American (diversified metals, mining)
- Associated British Foods (food processing)
- AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals)
- BG Group (oil, gas)
- BP (oil, gas)
- British American Tobacco (tobacco)
- Diageo (beverages)
- GlaxoSmithKline (pharmaceuticals)
- Imperial Tobacco Group (tobacco)
- Rio Tinto (diversified metals, mining)
- Rolls-Royce Holdings (aerospace & defense)
- SABMiller (beverages)
According to the UK Export Directory, the following are examples of established companies that ship products from the United Kingdom to its trading partners around the globe. Shown within parenthesis is the product category that the UK-based business specializes in.
- Absolute Battery (UK) Ltd (power supplies, batteries)
- Advanced Technology Laboratories (UK) Ltd (electronics)
- Antech UK Hydraulics (hydraulic motors, other machinery)
- Diamond Offshore (UK) Ltd (drilling equipment)
- Global Communications UK Ltd (broadcast equipment, satellites)
- Gold Major Group (jewelry)
- Johnson Pump (UK) Limited (rotary lobe pumps)
- Knight Plastics Ltd (plastic injection mouldings)
- Nippon Oil Exploration UK Ltd (oil, gas)
- Trumpler UK Ltd (chemicals)
See also United Kingdom’s Top 10 Imports, United Kingdom’s Top 10 Exports, UK’s Major EU Exports, United Kingdom’s Top 10 Major Export Companies and European Union’s Top 10 Exports
Research Sources:
British Exporters, Database of British Products & Verified British Exporters. Accessed on March 22, 2023
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 22, 2023
Forbes Global 2000, The World’s Largest Public Companies. Accessed on March 22, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 22, 2023
Investopedia, Net Importer Definition. Accessed on March 22, 2023
