Accredited official statistics

UK regional trade in goods statistics first quarter 2023: commentary

Published 15 June 2023

Regional trade in goods summary

This commentary reports the UK’s regional trade in goods statistics by broad area (EU and non-EU), Country and Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 4. Users must refer to the explanatory notes accompanying this commentary, covering data sources and compilation methodology. Aggregated data can be found in our accompanying tables .

In the year ending March 2023, the overall value of UK trade in goods increased by 18% for exports and by 24% for imports compared with the previous year.  ​At a regional level:

• all UK countries experienced an increase in the value of exports
• all UK countries experienced an increase in the value of imports
• export values increased for all English regions
• import values increased for all English regions

England’s trade in goods

In the year ending March 2023, compared with the year ending March 2022:

• England’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £136 billion (bn) (up £20bn, 17%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £5.0bn, 55%). The largest increase in EU exports was to the Netherlands (up £4.9bn, 25%).

• England’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £138bn (up £21bn, 18%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £5.0bn, 41%).​The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £7.3bn, 21%).​

• In the year ending March 2023, the largest English export region was London, accounting for 12% of the UK’s total goods exports, whilst the smallest was the North East, accounting for 3.5%.

• England’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £243bn (up £49bn, 25%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £6.9bn, almost 2.5 times the value). The largest increase in EU imports was from the Netherlands (up £15bn, 52%).

• England’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £233bn (up £31bn, 15%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £12bn, 59%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was from the USA (up £15bn, 48%).

• In the year ending March 2023, the largest English import region was the South East, accounting for 18% of the UK’s total goods exports, whilst the smallest was the North East, accounting for 2.6%.

Figure 1: England’s goods trade, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2023

Download detailed data for Figure 1 (ODS)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2022 and 2023 data are provisional

Figure 1 shows a time series of England’s goods trade with EU and non-EU countries, for both exports and imports.

• The value of all four goods flows had an overall increasing trend when comparing the year ending March 2023 with the previous year.
• Prior to the first quarter of 2021, England’s goods imports from EU countries had a higher value compared to the goods imports from non-EU countries. From the first quarter of 2021 onwards, their trade values aligned more closely.
• The value of EU and non-EU imports are larger than the value of both EU and non-EU exports throughout the time series.

Wales’s trade in goods

In the year ending March 2023, compared with the year ending March 2022:

• Wales’ goods exports to EU countries were worth £12bn (up £2.1bn, 22%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £1.3bn, more than doubling). The largest increase in EU exports was to Ireland (up £1.0bn, 52%).

• Wales’ goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £8.9bn (up £2.1bn, 31%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.9bn, 67%).​The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £1.1bn, 46%).​

• Wales’ goods imports from EU countries were worth £8.0bn (up £1.5bn, 23%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.6bn, tripling in value). The largest increase in EU imports was from France (up £0.3bn, 42%).

• Wales’ goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £16bn (up £4.0bn, 34%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £2.7bn, 64%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was from the USA (up £2.0bn, 95%).

Figure 2: Wales’ goods trade, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2023

Download detailed data for Figure 2 (ODS)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2022 and 2023 data are provisional

Figure 2 shows a time series of Wales’ goods trade with EU and non-EU countries, for both exports and imports.

• The value of all four goods flows had an overall increasing trend when comparing the year ending March 2023 with the previous year.
• Wales’ goods import value from non-EU countries had a noticeable increase since the second quarter of 2020, peaking in the third quarter of 2022.
• The value of EU exports has exceeded the value of non-EU exports throughout the time series.

Scotland’s trade in goods

In the year ending March 2023, compared with the year ending March 2022:

• Scotland’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £22bn (up £4.3bn, 24%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (up £2.9bn, 42%). The largest increase in EU exports was to the Netherlands (up £1.3bn, 23%).

• Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £15bn (up £2.3bn, 19%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 11 - Beverages (up £1.1bn, 36%).​The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £0.6bn, 17%).​

• Scotland’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £12bn (up £3.3bn, 38%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.5bn, more than doubling). The largest increase in EU imports was from the Netherlands (up £1.1bn, 77%).

• Scotland’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £24bn (up £4.3bn, 22%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was in SITC 34 - Gas, natural & manufactured (up £2.6bn, 36%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was from Norway (up £1.9bn, 25%).

Figure 3: Scotland’s goods trade, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2023

Download detailed data for Figure 3 (ODS)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2022 and 2023 data are provisional

Figure 3 shows a time series of Scotland’s goods trade with EU and non-EU countries, for both exports and imports.

• The value of all four goods flows had an overall increasing trend when comparing the year ending March 2023 with the previous year.
• Scotland’s goods import value from non-EU countries had a noticeable increase since the second quarter of 2021, with a large quarterly variation since the fourth quarter of 2021.
• Since the fourth quarter of 2020, the value of EU exports has exceeded the value of non-EU exports consistently.

Northern Ireland’s trade in goods

In the year ending March 2023, compared with the year ending March 2022:

• Northern Ireland’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £6.4bn (up £1.1bn, 20%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 02 - Dairy products & birds’ eggs (up £0.2bn, 41%). The largest increase in EU exports was to Ireland (up £0.6bn, 17%).

• Northern Ireland’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £3.4bn (up £0.4bn, 14%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 72 - Machinery specialized for particular industries (up £0.2bn, 48%).​The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £0.2bn, 18%).​

• Northern Ireland’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £6.7bn (up £0.9bn, 16%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 54 - Medicinal & pharmaceutical products (up £0.1bn, 32%). The largest increase in EU imports was from Ireland (up £0.5bn, 15%).

• Northern Ireland’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £3.1bn (up £0.5bn, 18%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was in SITC 32 - Coal, coke & briquettes (up £0.1bn, more than doubling). The largest increase in non-EU imports was from the USA (up £0.2bn, 41%).

Figure 4: Northern Ireland’s goods trade, Quarter 1 2020 to Quarter 1 2023

Download detailed data for Figure 4 (ODS)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2022 and 2023 data are provisional

Figure 4 shows a time series of Northern Ireland’s goods trade with EU and non-EU countries, for both exports and imports.

• The value of all four goods flows had an overall increasing trend when comparing the year ending March 2023 with the previous year.
• In the first quarter of 2023, the value of EU exports exceeded the value of EU imports for the first time since the first quarter of 2021.
• Throughout the time period, Northern Ireland’s goods trade value with EU countries has been higher than its goods trade with non-EU countries.