UK Overseas Trade Statistics for August 2021

Ian Simmonds • October 22, 2021

UK's overseas trade in goods statistics for August 2021.

Overseas Trade Statistics for August 2021


UK Trade Statistics


HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has released the UK's overseas trade in goods statistics for August 2021.

 

The following detailed UK trade statistics data has been collected and published by HMRC.




Post-Brexit UK / EU Trade


EU Exports

The monthly year-on-year exports of goods from the UK to the European Union were up for six months in a row.

Month Monthly Year-on-Year Increase / Decrease (£ Billions)
January -43% -5.9
February -12% -1.6
March 14% 1.7
April 38% 3.6
May 47% 4.5
June 32% 3.8
July 12% 1.5
August 7.9% 0.9

EU Imports

The monthly year-on-year imports of goods from the European Union to the UK were up for five months in a row.

Month Monthly Year-on-Year Increase / Decrease (£ Billions)
January -21% -4.1
February -15% -2.9
March -4% 0.8
April 33% 4.3
May 28% 3.7
June 7.2% 1.3
July 0.2% Less than 0.1
August 0.9% Less than 0.1

Summary of UK Trade Trends In August 2021


Total goods exports were £24.0bn:


  • down by £2.9bn (11%) compared with July 2021
  • up by £1.1bn (4.9%) compared with August 2020


Total goods imports were £39.6bn:


  • down by £2.6bn (6.3%) compared with July 2021
  • down by £1.1bn (2.6%) compared with August 2020


The UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £15.7bn, widening by £0.2bn on July 2021

 

EU and non-EU trade in goods


EU trade in goods in August 2021


EU exports were £11.6bn:


  • down by £1.5bn (11%) compared with July 2021
  • up by £0.9bn (7.9%) compared with August 2020


EU imports were £17.0bn:

 

  • down by £2.0bn (11%) compared with July 2021
  • up by £0.1bn (0.9%) compared with August 2020


For EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £5.4bn

 

Non-EU trade in goods in August 2021


Non-EU exports were £12.4bn:


  • down by £1.4bn (9.9%) compared with July 2021
  • up by £0.3bn (2.3%) compared with August 2020


Non-EU imports were £22.6bn:

  • down by £0.6bn (2.6%) compared with July 2021
  • down by £1.2bn (5.1%) compared with August 2020


For non-EU trade, the UK was a net importer, with imports exceeding exports by £10.2bn

 

Top UK Trading Partners


Top 5 trading partners by combined exports and imports value


Country Export value (£ billion) Change since July 2021 (%) Import value (£ billion) Change since July 2021 (%)
USA 3.2 -14.4 3.5 1.2
China 1.3 7.4 5.1 6.5
Germany 2.2 -8.4 4.1 -11.9
Netherlands 2.0 -2.6 2.4 -6.9
France 1.4 -20.8 1.8 2.0


UK Exports: Top 5 Trading Partners

Country Value (£ billion) Change since July 2021 (%)
USA 3.2 -14.4
Germany 2.2 -8.4
Netherlands 2.0 -2.6
Ireland 1.6 -7.2
France 1.4 -20.8


UK Imports: Top 5 Trading Partners

Country Value (£ billions) Change since July 2021 (%)
China 5.1 6.5
Germany 4.1 -11.9
USA 3.5 1.2
Netherlands 2.4 -6.9
Belgium 1.9 -4.4


UK: Top Traded Commodities


Top 5 commodities by combined exports and imports value

Commodity Exports value (£ billions) Change since July 2021 (%) Imports value (£ billions) Change since July 2021 (%)
Precious metals 2.2 20.5 5.5 8.9
Mechanical appliances 3.4 -25.3 4.3 -9.9
Mineral fuels 2.0 -6.1 3.5 -15.0
Electronic equipment 1.5 -5.8 3.3 -9.9
Motor vehicles 1.6 -32.8 3.2 -12.5


UK: Top 5 Exported Commodities

Commodity Value (£ billion) Change since July 2021 (%)
Mechanical appliances 3.4 -25.3
Precious metals 2.2 20.5
Mineral fuels 2.0 -6.1
Pharmaceutical Products 1.6 1.3
Motor vehicles 1.6 -32.8


UK: Top 5 Imported Commodities

Commodity Value (£ billion) Change since July 2021 (%)
Precious metals 5.5 8.9
Mechanical appliances 4.3 -9.9
Mineral fuels 3.5 -15.0
Electronic equipment 3.3 -9.9
Motor vehicles 3.2 -12.5

Source of the Information: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

 

If you would like more details, please call +44 (0) 118 932 8447 or email info@icsglobalservices.com

 

ICS Global Services Limited

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