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Pricing

2021
Flag → Flag
Exports $20.7BRnk 7 / 222
2021
Flag → Flag
Top Product $4.57BCars
2021
Flag → Flag
Exports $86.2BRnk 9 / 209
2021
Flag → Flag
Top Product $7.86BComputers
2021
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.43Rnk 11 / 131
2021
Flag
Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.07Rnk 25 / 131
2021
Flag  
GDP$3.12TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 204
2011-2021
Flag
GDP GROWTH17.1%CURRENT US$
Rnk 124 / 204
2021
Flag
 GDP$17.8TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 204
2011-2021
Flag
GDP GROWTH136%CURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 204
2021
Flag
GDP PC $46,586CURRENT US$
Rnk 29 / 204
2011-2021
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH10.5%CURRENT US$
Rnk 114 / 204
2021
Flag
GDP PC$12,618CURRENT US$
Rnk 75 / 204
2011-2021
Flag
GDP PC GROWTH125%CURRENT US$
Rnk 5 / 204

About

United Kingdom-China In 2021, United Kingdom exported $20.7B to China. The main products that United Kingdom exported to China are Cars ($4.57B), Crude Petroleum ($2.69B), and Packaged Medicaments ($1.84B). During the last 26 years the exports of United Kingdom to China have increased at an annualized rate of 10.6%, from $1.52B in 1995 to $20.7B in 2021.

In 2019, United Kingdom exported services to China worth $5.89B, with Other business services ($1.52B), Travel ($1.38B), and Transportation ($1.19B) being the largest in terms of value.

China-United Kingdom In 2021, China exported $86.2B to United Kingdom. The main products that China exported to United Kingdom were Computers ($7.86B), Broadcasting Equipment ($7.56B), and Other Furniture ($2.23B). During the last 26 years the exports of China to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 13.5%, from $3.17B in 1995 to $86.2B in 2021.

In 2021, China did not export any services to United Kingdom.

Comparison In 2021,  United Kingdom ranked 11 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.43), and 13 in total exports ($420B). That same year, China ranked 25 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.07), and 1 in total exports ($3.34T).

Latest Trends

September, 2023

About

Overview In September 2023, United Kingdom exported £2.42B and imported £5.56B from China, resulting in a negative trade balance of £3.14B. Between September 2022 and September 2023 the exports of United Kingdom have decreased by £-1.15B (-32.2%) from £3.57B to £2.42B, while imports decreased by £-68.6M (-1.22%) from £5.63B to £5.56B.

Trade In September 2023, the top exports of United Kingdom to China were Cars (£191M), Crude Petroleum (£160M), Platinum (£61.6M), Packaged Medicaments (£49.9M), and Gas Turbines (£37.3M). In September 2023 the top imports of United Kingdom from China were Laboratory Reagents (£524M), Computers (£236M), Other Furniture (£199M), Telephones (£192M), and Seats (£167M).

Origins In September 2023 the exports of United Kingdom were mainly from London Heathrow Airport (£1.69B), Southampton (£377M), Felixstowe (£105M), East Midlands Airport (£39.1M), and Manchester Airport (£36.2M), while imports destinations were mainly Felixstowe (£2.27B), Southampton (£861M), London Heathrow Airport (£432M), and East Midlands Airport (£199M).

Growth In September 2023, the decrease in United Kingdom's year-by-year exports to China was explained primarily by an decrease in product exports in Crude Petroleum (£-186M or -53.8%), Packaged Medicaments (£-85.7M or -63.2%), and Cars (£-30.6M or -13.8%). In September 2023, the decrease in United Kingdom's year-by-year imports  from China was explained primarily by an decrease in product imports  in Telephones (£-437M or -69.5%), Computers (£-367M or -60.9%), and Video Displays (£-19.3M or -35.4%).

Latest Trade

Flow
Time Scale
Depth
Value
EXPORT GROWTH (September 2022 - September 2023)£-1.15B(-32.2%)
IMPORT GROWTH (September 2022 - September 2023)£-68.6M(-1.22%)
MAIN EXPORTER (September 2023)London Heathrow Airport£1.69B

This section shows exports and imports data at subnational level for United Kingdom. Click any date in the line plot, any subnational region in the geomap or any product to explore the exports or imports behavior of United Kingdom over time.

To check China and United Kingdom trade dynamics, check the bilateral page.

For full datasets download visit Bulk Download page.

Explore China and United Kingdom Data

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Historical Data

Bilateral Trade by Products

Depth
Value

In 2021, United Kingdom exported $20.7B to China. The main products exported from United Kingdom to China were Cars ($4.57B), Crude Petroleum ($2.69B), and Packaged Medicaments ($1.84B). During the last 26 years the exports of United Kingdom to China have increased at an annualized rate of 10.6%, from $1.52B in 1995 to $20.7B in 2021.

In 2021, China exported $86.2B to United Kingdom. The main products exported from China to United Kingdom were Computers ($7.86B), Broadcasting Equipment ($7.56B), and Other Furniture ($2.23B). During the last 26 years the exports of China to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 13.5%, from $3.17B in 1995 to $86.2B in 2021.

Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to China (Flag) (2021)

Exports from China (Flag) to United Kingdom (Flag) (2021)

Market Competitiveness

Color
United Kingdom
Top DestinationUnited States$56.1B
China
Top DestinationUnited States$530B

This map shows whether countries import more from United Kingdom or China. Each country is colored based on the difference in imports they receive from United Kingdom and China or the difference in the growth in imports.

In 2021, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than China were Ireland ($28.4B), Switzerland ($25.7B), and North Macedonia ($2.05B).

In 2021, countries that imported more from China than United Kingdom were United States ($530B), Hong Kong ($323B), and Japan ($168B).

Difference in imports from China (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2021)

Comparative Advantage United Kingdom - China

Flow
Scale

This chart compares trade between United Kingdom and China by product, considering products traded by both, United Kingdom and China.

During 2021, United Kingdom had a large net trade with China in the exports of Transportation ($5.06B), Machines ($3.48B), and Chemical Products ($3.01B).

During 2021, China had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Machines ($34.4B), Miscellaneous ($12.8B), and Textiles ($8.02B).

Service Trade

Bilateral Service Trade

In 2019, United Kingdom exported services to China worth $5.89B, with Other business services ($1.52B), Travel ($1.38B), and Transportation ($1.19B) being the largest in terms of value.

Service trade data is presented based on availability.

Services Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to China (Flag) (2019)

Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization show the product space at the HS4 level colored from blue to yellow.  This mean that the more blue a dot/product is, the more United Kingdom has comparative advantage over China. Similarly, the more yellow a dot/product is, the more China has comparative advantage over United Kingdom.

Product Space of United Kingdom (Flag) and China (Flag) (2021)

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