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2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $35.3BRnk 2 / 223
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $17.5BGold
2023
Flag → Flag
Exports $98.3BRnk 10 / 208
2023
Flag → Flag
Top Product $11.7BBroadcasting Equipment
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.5Rnk 11 / 132
2023
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Economic Complexity (ECI) ECI 1.16Rnk 21 / 132
2023
Flag  
GDP$3.38TCURRENT US$
Rnk 6 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH21.4%CURRENT US$
Rnk 136 / 195
2023
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 GDP$17.8TCURRENT US$
Rnk 2 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP GROWTH85.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 22 / 195
2023
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GDP PC $49,464CURRENT US$
Rnk 26 / 195
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH13.9%CURRENT US$
Rnk 124 / 195
2023
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GDP PC$12,614CURRENT US$
Rnk 80 / 196
2013-2023
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GDP PC GROWTH79.7%CURRENT US$
Rnk 17 / 195

About

United Kingdom-China Trade: In 2023, United Kingdom exported $35.3B to China. The main products that United Kingdom exported to China were Gold ($17.5B), Cars ($4.41B), and Crude Petroleum ($1.28B). Over the past 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to China have increased at an annualized rate of 6.85%, from $25.4B in 2018 to $35.3B in 2023.

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 Trade: In 2023, China exported $98.3B to United Kingdom. The main products that China exported to United Kingdom were Broadcasting Equipment ($11.7B), Computers ($7.66B), and Cars ($5.77B). Over the past 5 years the exports of China to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 4.1%,  from $63.2B in 2018 to $98.3B in 2023.

In 2023, China did not export any services to United Kingdom.

Comparison: In 2023,  United Kingdom ranked 11 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.5), and 14 in total exports ($429B). That same year, China ranked 21 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.16), and 1 in total exports ($3.42T).

Latest Trends

November, 2024

About

Overview In November 2024, United Kingdom exported £4.19B and imported £6.41B from China, resulting in a negative trade balance of £2.23B. Between November 2023 and November 2024 the exports of United Kingdom have increased by £231M (5.83%) from £3.96B to £4.19B, while imports increased by £673M (11.7%) from £5.74B to £6.41B.

Trade In November 2024, the top exports of United Kingdom to China were Gold (£489M), Cars (£274M), Packaged Medicaments (£28.1M), Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... (£27.1M), and Scrap Copper (£26.7M). In November 2024 the top imports of United Kingdom from China were Telephones (£793M), Computers (£426M), Video and Card Games (£271M), Refined Petroleum (£230M), and Electric Batteries (£212M).

Origins In November 2024 the exports of United Kingdom were mainly from London Heathrow Airport (£3.57B), Southampton (£166M), Felixstowe (£128M), Manchester Airport (£40.9M), and London Gateway (£38.7M), while imports destinations were mainly Felixstowe (£2.14B), Southampton (£912M), London Heathrow Airport (£748M), and London Gateway (£439M).

Growth In November 2024, the increase in United Kingdom's year-by-year exports to China was explained primarily by an increase in product exports in Cars (£82.8M or 43.4%), Sculptures (£19.4M or 12.3k%), and Motor vehicles; parts and accessories (8701... (£15.9M or 141%). In November 2024, the increase in United Kingdom's year-by-year imports  from China was explained primarily by an increase in product imports  in Telephones (£602M or 314%), Video and Card Games (£212M or 366%), and Computers (£190M or 80.7%).

Latest Trade

Time Scale
Flow
Value
Depth
EXPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)£231M(5.83%)
IMPORT GROWTH (November 2023 - November 2024)£673M(11.7%)
MAIN EXPORTER (November 2024)London Heathrow Airport£3.57B

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 2023, United Kingdom exported $35.3B to China. The main products exported from United Kingdom to China were Gold ($17.5B), Cars ($4.41B), and Crude Petroleum ($1.28B). During the last 5 years the exports of United Kingdom to China have increased at an annualized rate of 6.85%, from $25.4B in 2018 to $35.3B in 2023.

In 2018, China exported $98.3B to United Kingdom. The main products exported from China to United Kingdom were Broadcasting Equipment ($11.7B), Computers ($7.66B), and Cars ($5.77B). During the last 5 years the exports of China to United Kingdom have increased at an annualized rate of 4.1%, from $63.2B in 2023 to $98.3B in 2018.

Exports from United Kingdom (Flag) to China (Flag) (2023)

Exports from China (Flag) to United Kingdom (Flag) (2023)

Market Competitiveness

Color
United Kingdom
Top DestinationUnited States$59.7B
China
Top DestinationUnited States$436B

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 2023, countries that imported more from United Kingdom than China included Ireland ($29.1B), Belgium ($16.5B), and Cyprus ($1.48B).

In 2023, countries that imported more from China than United Kingdom included United States ($436B), Hong Kong ($259B), and Japan ($169B).

Difference in imports from China (Flag) and United Kingdom (Flag) (2023)

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 2023, United Kingdom had a large net trade with China in the exports of Precious Metals ($17.8B), Transportation ($4.92B), and Machines ($3.44B).

During 2018, China had a large net trade with United Kingdom in the exports of Machines ($43.3B), Miscellaneous ($10.5B), and Transportation ($8.37B).

Potential Exports

Potential Exports

Depth
View
Sort By
Top Product Potential United Kingdom China+$1.71BCrude Petroleum
Top Product Potential China United Kingdom+$720MCars

We estimate the export potential of an economy for each product and destination using an extension of the bilateral relatedness model of Jun et al. (2019).This extended gravity model considers similarities among products and geographies and explains more than 50% of the variance in future trade flows.

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Economic Complexity

Competitive Landscape

This visualization shows the product space at the HS4 level with the flags of United Kingdom and China. This means that a dot/product with the flag of United Kingdom indicates it has a comparative advantage over China. Similarly, a dot/product with the flag of China indicates it has a comparative advantage over United Kingdom.

Product Space of United Kingdom (Flag) and China (Flag) (2023)

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