Statistics at DIT
We publish statistics on international trade, including imports and exports, strategic export controls, foreign direct investment, and inward investment.
For the latest official statistics previously published by DIT (now closed), see statistics at DBT .
Official statistics
We produce official statistics in accordance with the statutory and other arrangements described in the guidance on how national and official statistics are assured. We follow the code of practice for official statistics.
View the latest statistics for:
DIT statistical series
Our publications include:
- Market access barrier statistics
- DIT national survey of registered businesses’ exporting behaviours, attitudes and needs
- DIT inward investment results
- great.gov.uk performance dashboard
- Strategic export controls: licensing statistics
- Trade and investment core statistics book
- UK defence and security export figures
- UK trade in numbers
- Trade and investment factsheets
DIT ad-hoc statistical releases
Ad-hoc releases include:
- Statistics on DIT export support objectives (2019 to 2020)
- Net zero related inward investment in the UK: 18 November 2020 to 24 September 2021
- Benefits of Expo 2020 Dubai
- Net zero related inward investment in the UK: 18 November 2020 to 12 October 2022
Upcoming DIT statistical publications
We announce advance publication dates for all:
How accessible our statistics are
We are committed to making our statistical outputs accessible.
We have reviewed our statistical outputs and made adjustments to bring all outputs, published from 23 September 2020, in line with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 legislation.
DIT want as many people as possible to be able to use our websites.
This includes enabling users to:
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change colours, contrast levels and fonts
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navigate most of the website using just a keyboard or using speech recognition software
We have tried to make text easy to understand but do use legal and technical language where necessary. AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
After 23 September 2020, all DIT Official Statistic releases published from June 2022 were fully accessible. All official statistic publications are fully compliant with the legislation. To do this, HTML versions of statistical releases were published alongside or in place of older formats. These HTML pages were created using Government Digital Service (GDS) templates for GOV.UK. These ensure full compliance with accessibility legislation for all generated content. Where images are attached for graph types not yet supported by the template, these are all created using fully approved colour schemes and style guides to meet legislative requirements. Non-compliant PDFs were replaced with accessible versions.
We have followed the Government Statistical Service’s (GSS) releasing statistics in spreadsheets guidance making all:
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published spreadsheets available in a non-proprietary open format such as CSV
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published statistic tables available in open source open document spreadsheet (ODS) formats linked directly to the relevant tables within the publication
This ensures that our statistical outputs are fully accessible while continuing to meet the statistical needs of our users.
We recognise that not all our publications between 23 September 2018 and 23 September 2020 will be fully accessible. Whilst we appreciate there may be some interest to users of historical versions of publications, the latest editions are usually the most popular and relevant to users, so we are prioritising these accordingly.
In line with the legislation, we will provide a specific statistical publication in a different format if requested.
Contact statistics@trade.gov.uk for further details.
UK statistics resources
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collect and publish a number of statistical releases on the UK’s international trade (both goods and services) and foreign direct investment.
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collect and publish trade in goods data and as well as international trade in goods data for the 9 government office regions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
International trade statistics resources
For international data, there are often discrepancies between the trade statistics published by ONS and HMRC, and those published by international organisations like Eurostat, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN).
Although these organisations receive the UK data directly from the ONS and HMRC, exchange rate conversions and delays in processing revisions mean that data may differ between sources.
International trade statistics resources include:
- UN Comtrade tool
- International Trade Centre (ITC) Trade Map
- Eurostat trade in goods, services and foreign direct investment
- OECD statistics
- UN Conference on Trade and Development statistics
- World Trade Organization annual trade statistics
- World Bank Open Data portal
Statistics enquiries
Email statistics@trade.gov.uk if you have a general enquiry about our statistics.
Visit the national statistics website for general information on UK government statistics in all other areas.