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UK regional trade in goods statistics, third quarter, July to September 2023: commentary

Published 14 December 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.

Please note that trade in goods values are in current prices. Figures are not adjusted for inflation or global economic events, so please take caution when making comparisons with historic data.

In the year ending September 2023, the overall value of UK trade in goods increased by 2.7% for exports and by 2.2% for imports, when compared with the previous year. At a regional level:

• All UK countries experienced an increase in the value of exports, except for Scotland which decreased
• England and Northern Ireland experienced an increase in the value of imports, while Wales and Scotland saw decreases
• Export values increased for all English regions, except for Yorkshire and the Humber, London and the South East which decreased
• Import values increased for all English regions, except for Yorkshire and The Humber which decreased

England’s trade in goods

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

England’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £130 billion (bn) (down £0.3bn, 0.2%). The largest decrease in EU exports was in SITC 34 – Gas, natural & manufactured (down £2.3bn, 50%). The largest decrease in EU exports was to the Netherlands (down £3.2bn, 13%).

England’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £136bn (up £7.2bn, 5.6%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £4.7bn, 32%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £4.1bn, 11%).

In the year ending September 2023, the largest English export region was the South East, accounting for 11% of the UK’s total goods exports, whilst the smallest was the North East, accounting for 3.6%.

England’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £245bn (up £21bn, 9.5%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 78 - Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles) (up £6.2bn, 16%). The largest increase in EU imports was from France (up £7.2bn, 28%).

England’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £214bn (down £17bn, 7.3%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was in SITC 34 – Gas, natural & manufactured (down £13bn, 40%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was from Norway (down £10bn, 37%).

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

Figure 1: England’s goods trade, Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020 onwards

Download detailed data for Figure 1: England’s goods trade (ODS 7KB)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2023 data is 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 non-EU exports and EU imports had overall increasing trends when comparing the year ending September 2023 with previous years, whereas EU exports and non-EU imports had overall decreasing trends
• The value of non-EU imports reached its peak in the time series in the fourth quarter of 2022, before experiencing successive quarterly decreases in 2023
• 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 September 2023, compared with the year ending September 2022:

Wales’ goods exports to EU countries were worth £12bn (up £0.4bn, 3.4%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 79 - Other transport equipment (up £0.2bn, 14%). The largest increase in EU exports was to France (up £0.2bn, 15%).

Wales’ goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £8.3bn (a small value increase, up 0.1%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 71 - Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.4bn, 22%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was to Saudi Arabia (up £0.2bn, 87%).

Wales’ goods imports from EU countries were worth £7.7bn (a small value increase 1.2%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 71 – Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.1bn, 16%). The largest increase in EU imports was from France (up £0.2bn, 23%).

Wales’ goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £14.3bn (down £0.9bn, 5.7%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was in SITC 33 - Petroleum, petroleum products & related materials (down £0.5bn, 7.5%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was from Japan (down £0.4bn, 48%).

Figure 2: Wales’ goods trade, Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020 onwards

Download detailed data for Figure 2: Wales’ goods trade (ODS 7KB)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2023 data is 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 goods flows had an overall increasing trend when comparing the year ending September 2023 with previous years apart from non-EU imports which decreased
• Wales’ goods import value from non-EU countries had consecutive increases since the second quarter of 2020, peaking in the third quarter of 2022, and then falling each quarter to £3.2bn in the third quarter of 2023
• 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 September 2023, compared with the year ending September 2022:

Scotland’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £21bn (down £0.3bn, 1.6%). The largest decrease in EU exports was in SITC 34 – Gas, natural & manufactured (down £1.3bn, 39%). The largest decrease in EU exports was to Ireland (down £1.1bn, 27%).

Scotland’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £14.4bn (up £0.2bn, 1.6%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 71 – Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.4bn, 21%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £0.3bn, 6.8%).

Scotland’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £12bn (up £1.2bn, 11%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 71 – Power generating machinery & equipment (up £0.4bn, 50%). The largest increase in EU imports was from the Netherlands (up £0.4bn, 20%).

Scotland’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £20bn (down £4.2bn, 17%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was in SITC 34 - Gas, natural & manufactured (down £3.7bn, 35%). The largest decrease in non-EU imports was from Norway (down £3.7bn, 36%).

Figure 3: Scotland’s goods trade, Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020 onwards

Download detailed data for Figure 3: Scotland’s goods trade (ODS 7KB)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2023 data is 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 non-EU Exports and EU imports increased when comparing the year ending September 2023 with previous years while EU exports and non-EU imports decreased
• Scotland’s goods import value from non-EU countries and goods export value to EU countries peaked in the fourth quarter of 2022, but both have seen consecutive decreases in 2023
• 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 September 2023, compared with the year ending September 2022:

Northern Ireland’s goods exports to EU countries were worth £6.8bn (up £1.0bn, 18%). The largest increase in EU exports was in SITC 66 – Non-metallic mineral manufactures n.e.s. (up £0.2bn, more than 2.5 times the value). The largest increase in EU exports was to Ireland (up £0.5bn,13%).

Northern Ireland’s goods exports to non-EU countries were worth £3.7bn (up £0.6bn, 18%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was in SITC 72 - Machinery specialized for particular industries (up £0.3bn, 56%). The largest increase in non-EU exports was to the USA (up £0.3bn, 35%).

Northern Ireland’s goods imports from EU countries were worth £6.6bn (up £0.3bn, 5.5%). The largest increase in EU imports was in SITC 54 – Medicinal & pharmaceutical products (up £0.1bn, 24%). The largest increase in EU imports was to the Netherlands (up £0.1bn, 12%).

Northern Ireland’s goods imports from non-EU countries were worth £3.1bn (up £0.2bn, 7.2%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was in SITC 77 – Electrical machinery, apparatus & appliances n.e.s and electrical parts thereof n.e.s. (up £0.1bn, 42%). The largest increase in non-EU imports was from the USA (up £0.3bn, 49%).

Figure 4: Northern Ireland’s goods trade, Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2020 onwards

Download detailed data for Figure 4: Northern Ireland’s goods trade (ODS 7KB)

Source: HM Revenue & Customs Regional Trade in Goods Statistics
Note: 2023 data is 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 September 2023 with previous years
• From the second quarter of 2021, the value of EU imports exceeded the value of EU exports, until 2023, where the value of EU exports has exceeded the value of EU imports
• Throughout the time series, Northern Ireland’s goods trade value with EU countries has been higher than its goods trade with non-EU countries